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NEW YORK: 

M. K. PELLETREAU, PUBLISHER, 

45 Rose Street. 


Copyright y iSgiy bjy Samuel IValker. 





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THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER I. 

THE RIGHTS OF A DIRECTOR. 

Two young men were driving through one of the 
side streets of the great city of Pactolus in Midasia. 
One was a denizen of the city. The other appeared 
to be a foreigner. The man holding the lines was 
Sydney Griffin ; the other Clarence Coyne. 

They were talking earnestly. Said Mr. Griffin to 
his companion, I can take her if I wish.” 

‘‘ What ? ” said Coyne. 

“ I can take her riding if I wish,” answered Griffin. 

Why, do you know her ? ” asked Coyne. 

‘^No.” 

Then how can you get her to go with you ? ” 

I will make her go,” answered Griffin. 

“How?” 

“ Why, take her.” 

“ Who is she ? ” 

“ I don’t know.” 

“ She looks like a respectable girl.” 


2 


THE EEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


‘‘I suppose she is what you call a respectable 
girl,” answered Griffin. 

‘‘ Then how will you make her go with you? ” 

“ Why, I will simply take her,” Griffin said this 
impatiently. 

“Now you are talking nonsense.” 

“Am I ? I’ll bet this rig against a thousand dol- 
lars * that I can go back and make her come with 
me.” 

“And you don’t know her ? ” 

“ Never saw her before, don’t know anything about 
her.” 

A look of incredulity came over the foreigner’s face. 

“ Don’t you believe it ? ” asked Griffin. 

“I must confess I hardly do,” answered Coyne 
with a smile. 

“ Will you take the bet ? ” asked Griffin. 

The foreigner looked into his companion’s face to 
see if he was in earnest, then said : “Are you trying 
one of your catches on me ? ” 

“ There is no catch about it,” said Griffin hotly, “ I 
mean what I say — I will bet this rig against a thou 
sand dollars that I make that girl come with us.” 

“Are you serious ? ” 

“As serious as a man can possibly be.” 

“ Then there is no catch ? ” 

* In referring to money the author will use the names ap- 
plicable to American Currency (dollars and cents) instead of 
those applied to the coin of Midasia; the coins of both coun- 
tries being very nearly alike in value. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


“None whatever,” replied Griffin, then he added 
eagerly, “ Do yon take me np? ” 

Coyne looked at his companion again to see if he 
was in earnest, raised his eyebrows, smiled and 
nodded. 

i “ Done,” said Griffin. He turned his team about 
and drove in the direction from which he had come. 

Maud Holt, a graceful girl with a pretty face, was 
talking with an old lady in front of her home, “ Good- 
by,” she said as she was about to enter the house 
in front of which she was standing, “Good-by, I 
shall see you to-morrow.” 

At that moment, Griffin and his companion drove 
up. Griffin jumped to the pavement, and walked 
up to the girl, as he said, “ My dear, I want you to 
take a drive with me.” 

The girl started, looked round and attempted to 
enter the house, 

“Don’t be in a hurry, my dear,” Griffin said as 
he laid his hand on her arm. The girl shook his hand 
off angrily as she said, 

“ What do you mean, sir ? ” she opened the door. 
Griffin seized her roughly by the arm saying, 
“ Come, no nonsense, I want to give you a ride.” 

The girl attempted to free herself as she gave a 
scream. Griffin held her firmly. 

“ That is the way you receive my kindness, is it ? ” 
he said as he seized her in his arms. He carried her 
to the curb and tossed her roughly in the wagon. 


4 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


The girl was screaming all the time ; he and his 
companions jumped in after her. They were about 
to drive olf , when an old man rushed out of the house. 
He caught the horses by the bridle, Griffin lashed 
the horses with the whip, but the old man held them 
firmly, his teeth were clinched and every muscle was 
strained. He did not utter a word — the girl screamed 
and struggled. It required all the strength of Griffin 
and Coyne to prevent her from throwing herself out. 

The scene described took not more than a moment 
to enact, but within that moment, there were numer- 
ous spectators; from nearly every door and window 
women and children were looking on with pale faces 
at the strange scene, — two men struggling with a 
girl in a road wagon, a man struggling with the 
horses in the street. Everywhere women and chil- 
dren were seen, but there was not another man in 
sight. 

Suddenly the girl ceased to scream, Griffin had 
tied a handkerchief over her mouth; the horses be- 
came quiet, there was no sound but the struggles 
of the girl and the low curses of the men in the 
wagon. 

How dare you touch my daughter ? ” shouted 
the old man as soon as he regained his breath. 

“ How dare you touch my horses ? ” said Griffin 
in a strained voice, still struggling with the girl. 

Some one shouted ‘‘Police.” 

In an instant the cry of 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


5 


‘‘Police.’’ 

“ Police.” 

“ Police,” resounded through the street, until the 
silent street seemed like a Bedlam; one woman 
ran screaming toward the wagon with a broom; as if 
by magic the wagon was in a moment surrounded by 
an angry, screaming, gesticulating crowd of women, 
brandishing all sorts of household utensils. The 
clamor was such that not a word could be distin 
guished. Then a policeman appeared, fighting his 
way to the wagon; almost immediately, he was 
joined by another, — then another. They flourished 
their clubs and forced the women back. 

“ What’s the matter ? ” said one of the policemen, 
addressing the occupants of the wagon; — then there 
arose an indistinguishable clamor from the infuri- 
ated women, accompanied by all manner of threat- 
ening gestures. 

Griffin turned to reply to the policeman, — the girl 
made a final effort to free herself, and succeeded in 
throwing herself out of the wagon; she fell in a 
heap and lay on the ground stunned. 

The crowd stood breathless for a moment, then 
a cry of horror arose that was frightful to hear,— 
the crowd pressed around. Some women with her 
father’s aid picked her up, they carried her through 
a lane of horrified women, they laid her limp and 
deathlike uj)on the door-step of her home. There 
was a stream of blood coursing down her forehead. 


6 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


— then another cry of horror burst from the crowd, — 
some one shouted, 

“ Murder,” then there again rose a clamor horrible 
in its significance, 

‘‘ Murder.” 

“ Murder.” 

“ Murder.” 

Kill them, don’t let them escape.” 

Murderers kill kill “ kill ” Blood 
for blood.” 

‘‘ Kill “ Kill She is dead.”— ‘‘ Kill the mur- 
derers.” 

“ Kill”— “ Kill”— Kill.” 

To such cries as these, women heedless of the 
policeman’s warning, heedless of the clubs, — charged 
upon Griffin and Coyne. Thick and fast the blows 
fell upon the wagon and its occupants, — stones and 
missiles began to fall upon them. Then the sharp 
report of a pistol rang out above the warning of the 
policeman, above the cries of the women, above the 
sound of blows, following it came a woman’s scream, 
— Another report. 

Another scream, 

Another report. 

Another scream. 

The women fell back panic-stricken before the 
smoking muzzles of two revolvers in the hands of 
Griffin and Coyne. 

In their haste they struggled frantically to get 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


7 


away, — some were knocked down, and trampled 
upon, some ran away screaming with terror, some 
retreated slowly and doggedly. In a few seconds a 
space was cleared around the wagon. The effect of 
the pistol shots was then visible, two women and a 
man lay upon the ground, the man was Maud’s father. 

A subdued cry of horror arose from the crowd as 
they saw the man and the women lying motionless; 
the man struggled to his feet, — his left arm hung 
useless by his side; he made a rush for Griffin and 
attempted to reach him with his right hand, but a 
policeman interposed and held him back. There 
was a momentary struggle, then the man again sank 
down faint from pain. 

A squad of policemen in command of an officer- 
then appeared, followed by a rabble of men and boys. 
The women retired to their doorways as the squad 
approached. Two of the policemen lifted the women 
and the wounded man, and at a motion from one of 
the women laid the man beside his daughter. Some 
of the women were about to carry the father and 
daughter into the house when the officer in command 
ordered them to leave the wounded where they 
were. 

The other women were laid in the same doorway 
on a shawl furnished by one of the women. The 
officer then demanded: 

“ What is the meaning of this ? ” 

A number of women crowded around, all speaking 


8 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


together and at the same time gesticulating an- 
grily. This was the response to his demand. The 
officer silenced them after a time. 

‘‘ What is the cause of this trouble ? ” he asked 
one of the policemen. The officer stated what he 
and his fellow-policemen had witnessed on their ar- 
rival. 

The wounded man was now sufficiently restored to 
consciousness to comprehend what was going on; 
he arose and staggered to the officer and said 
(pointing to Griffin and Coyne) : 

‘‘ Those fellows tried to abduct my daughter and 
have killed her,” then he made a rush at the wagon; 
the police easily stopped him. There was a renewal 
of the clamor by the crowd and after comparative 
silence was restored the sergeant looked at Griffin 
for an explanation. 

“ I merely wanted to take the girl for a ride, and 
she made a fool of herself, that’s all,” he said con- 
temptuously as he gathered up the reins to drive off. 

‘‘ They tried to abduct my child,” said the wounded 
man, and I demand that they be arrested.” 

‘^Arrest them ” — ‘‘Arrest ” — “ Arrest ” — “ Kill 
them ” — “ Hang them,” shouted the crowd. 

“ You will have to go to the station with me,” said 
the sergeant to Griffin. 

“ To the station ? ” said Griffin contemptuously. 
“You are a fool, I was going to let this pass, but 
now I order you to arrest that fellow. I charge him 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


9 


with attempted assault and an attempt to incite a 
riot.” 

“ I have no time to listen to nonsense,” said the 
officer, “ you have shot three people and almost killed 
^ that girl ; come out of the wagon or I shall remove 
you.” 

“You fool, I will remove you. Do you see 
that ? ” said Griffin angrily, turning down the lapel 
of his coat and showing a badge. The sergeant 
glanced at it and turned pale. 

“I beg pardon,” he said humbly, “I hope you 
won’t take amiss what I have said, I didn’t 
know ” 

“What are you on the police force for but to 
know ? ” said Griffin angrily. 

“ If your honor can overlook this offence, it will 
not be repeated,” said the sergeant, looking i)lead- 
ingly at Griffin. 

“ I make no promises,” said Griffin. “ Take this 
fellow to Justice Shaw and have him punished, — 

give him three months, no, d him, give him 

six.” 

His eye fell upon the group of women caring for 
the girl, “Ah, the girl, give her— well, I w^on’t dispose 
of her case now, but see to it that she is on hand 
when she is wanted, do you hear ? ” The sergeant nod- 
ded respectfully. “ Now clear this rabble out of the 
way or I will drive over them ; ” so saying he handed 
the sergeant a small piece of paper. The sergeant 


10 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


motioned to his men and they charged the crowd 
with drawn clubs. The street was cleared in a 
moment, and Griffin with his friend drove down the 
street in elegant style with a dash of blood on their 
wagon wheels. ' 

“ You directors seem to have a good deal of power 
here,” said Coyne. 

“ Yes,” replied Griffin, director in the United 
Supply Company has more power than most kings. 
Money is the greatest power in the world.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


11 


CHAPTER 11. 

don’t THEY GIVE A MAN A TRIAL ? 

The sergeant or officer in command sent one of 
his men for a stretcher. The man returned in a few 
minutes. They laid the wounded man upon it. 

Two of the officers lifted it. At a sign from the 
sergeant the police formed a solid square around it. 

March,” said the sergeant. 

In the midst of howling threats and execrations 
the squad with their jirisoner marched down the 
street. 

The crowd followed hooting. 

They marched direct to the police court, a plain 
bare room. There were several officers in the room, 
all armed, two or three spectators, one lawyer, and 
Judge Shaw. None of the witnesses of the assault 
were permitted so enter the room. 

The lawyer recognized the wounded prisoner, 
shook hands with him and conversed with him while 
a policeman stood guard over him. 

The justice was engaged in an examination. 

The sergeant made his complaint to the clerk. 
“ Lyman Holt,” called the justice after a lapse of 
about five minutes. Tlie policeman motioned the 
wounded juisoner to the bar. 


12 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


The lawyer stepped to his side. 

“ Lyman Holt,” said the magistrate, glancing at 
the complaint before him, “ you are charged with 
attempted assault on the person of Sydney Griffin, 
also a breach of the peace in attempting to incite a 
riot. What have you to say ? ” 

The lawyer answered, “ I appear for the prisoner 
and ask for an adjournment to procure witnesses. 
From what I am informed the prisoner was simply 
protecting his daughter from abduction.” 

“ Sergeant, what have you to say to that ? Where 
is the complainant ? ” said the justice. 

The sergeant handed the justice a piece of paper. 

The justice glanced at it. His manner changed 
instantly. “Prisoner,” he said, “you have been 
guilty of a most outrageous assault and I commit 
you to the labor bureau of the United Supply Com- 
pany for six months — I ” 

“ But if your honor please,” interposed the lawyer, 
“ we can demonstrate that the prisoner is guilty of 
no offence. We can bring a cloud of witnesses to 
show ” 

“ Mr. Ray,” said the justice, “ there is no use wast- 
ing time on this case, it is disposed of. Look at 
this,” and he handed the lawyer a piece of paper. 

The lawyer glanced at the paper and showed it to 
the prisoner. 

“ I can do nothing for you, Mr. Holt, he is a direc- 
tor of the company, i am sorry for you, bear up 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


13 


like a man, six months won’t be long,” so saying 
the lawyer shook hands with the prisoner and the 
prisoner fell in a swoon on the floor. 

The paper which the sergeant gave the Judge was 
written in pencil and read as follows. 

Six months,” 

Griflin, director.” 

The paper bore the seal of the Great United Sup- 
ply Company. 

One of the spectators, a young man, spoke to an 
oflicer: “Don’t they give a man a trial before they 
send him to prison ? ” 

The oflicer looked at him in surprise, “ Where are 
you from ? ” he asked. 

“ I was born in this city,” the young man replied, 
“ but I have been away for some years.” 

“ Then you were very foolish to come back. What 
is your name ? ” 

“ Leon Felon,” replied the young man. The oflicer 
looked at him for a moment, then turned and 
walked away. 


14 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER III. 

THE GREAT COMPANY. 

Arbitrary arrests and unjust imprisonments were 
by no means uncommon in Pactolus and yet Midasia 
was not a barbaric country ; on tlie contrary, it had 
reached the highest stage of enlightenment. 

It had reached that high state of enlightenment 
where the citizen ignores everything except self-in- 
terest. 

Have I a direct personal interest in this matter ? ” 
How does it concern my personal estate ? ” 

‘‘ Can I make any money out of it ? ” 

How does it affect my pocket ? ” 

Why should I give my time and attention to it 
if I cannot make money out of it ? ” 

Such were the tests and declarations applied by 
the citizens of Midasia and especially of Pactolus to 
all questions affecting the welfare of their nation 
and the common interests of the people. 

A craze for money-making had taken possession 
of the citizens of Pactolus and everything was for- 
gotten and sacrificed to this craze. 

As a consequence a once public-spirited, patriotic 
and liberty-loving people, when too late, found 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


15 


themselves in the power of an oligarchy which re- 
duced the whole nation to a condition of practical 
slavery. 

This condition was brought about by such insidi- 
ous means as to be scarcely noticed until the people 
were dependent on the men who controlled the 
oligarchy. 

“ Every man for himself,” was the motto of the 
people of this nation, and they believed that they 
were too smart to waste any of their time or energies 
on any concern which did not give them a direct cash 
return. 

“ I have no time to work for anybody or anything 
but myself,” was a common remark of these citizens, 
and in a very short time the whole nation was work- 
ing for twenty -five hundred rich families, working 
like slaves to make those twenty -five hundred rich 
families richer. 

The Great United Supply Company was the most 
powerful and was also the richest organization in 
the world; it might be more proper to say that it 
was the most wonderful chain of organization that 
ever existed, its capital amounted to thousands 
of millions of dollars, it had its agencies in every in- 
habitable place on the globe. 

It was hated, feared and its will respected wher- 
ever men desired either money or liberty. It was 
hated and feared by those forming a part of it, those 
connected with it, and those outside of it. Its only 


16 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


object was to make money. Each day saw that ob- 
ject growing in an increased measure. 

Warren Stillpool was its President, a man of mas- 
terly mind, cold, passionless, inexorable; what he 
desired to do he did regardless of consequences. He 
would not kill a fly unnecessarily, but he would sac- 
riflce the lives of ten thousand men, if necessary, to 
the furtherance of his interests. His ability to 
fathom men was startling. Half of his great abili- 
ties and success lay in his discernment in selecting 
his lieutenants and chaining them to his interest. 
By this great faculty he held them as firmly to his 
fortunes as though they were confined by lock and 
bolt. 

Another element which contributed greatly to his 
success was his ability to accurately weigh and place 
a proper value on elements favorable and unfavora- 
ble to his interests. 

He had an utter contempt for what is known as 

Popular Opinion.” 

“ What is ‘ popular opinion ’ ? ” he would say, an 
aggregation of particles which will not fuse and 
which is likely to separate into particles immediately 
after coming together. 

‘‘ It is like a flock of birds, which may be scattered 
by a gesture, a sound or a blow.” 

He often said, ‘‘ Men and women have too many 
personal interests to look after, to give attention to 
common interests. They are too busy earning their 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


17 


living — with their business interests — in matters of 
their individual concern, to spend their time with 
anything that is not interwoven with tlieir personal 
affairs.” 

‘‘ Society is so conducted that it takes all of the 
average man’s time to make a living and he cannot 
afford to devote any of it to even the gravest of pub- 
lic concerns.” 

‘‘ Public spirit is of necessity spasmodic and short- 
lived.” 

For these reasons Mr. Stillpool had no fear of pub- 
lic opinion interfering with any of his doings, even 
though they were what is termed outrages ” on in- 
dividual rights or on the rights of the body. politic. 

Every branch of trade and commerce, every prod- 
uct of the soil, the bowels of the earth, the compass 
of the sea, every creation of the brain or hand of 
man were under his control or were being irresisti- 
bly drawn toward him. 

At the time of the arrest of Mr. Holt the great 
company had been in existence about one year. The 
Banner Company, its predecessor, had been in exist- 
ence for a number of years. 

With the aid of the great modern abridgers of time, 
electricity and the engines of concentrated motive 
power, the company from its inception increased in 
wealth and strength. 

About three years before the inception of the 
company, perhaps it is safe to say, many years be- 


18 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

fore, there existed similar organizations, but on a 
less comprehensive scale; there were many such in 
all parts of the globe, timidly experimenting with 
the policy of uniting for the jmrpose of concentrat- 
ing strength and strangling suicidal competition. 

Mr. Stillpool conceived the idea of fusing into a 
solid force all the corporations and organizations of 
sufficient importance to contribute strength to the 
united body and at the same time of crushing out 
the unimportant and weak ones. 

Up to his thirtieth year Mr. Stillpool had been a 
clerk in the Oil House of Mr. Holt, his salary had 
been small, and as salaries went, it was all he was 
worth. He manifested no special aptitude for the 
business. What he had to do he did without merit- 
ing or receiving either praise or blame; nobody 
could say that he was what was called ‘‘ smart,” no 
intelligent person would pronounce him stupid; he 
might have been called a dreamer who dreamed with 
one eye open. With that eye he managed to see all 
that was going on around him. 

Mr. Holt’s business controlled a special line of oil 
or rather a special method of treating it; the busi- 
ness was lucrative and Mr. Holt’s capital accumulated 
rapidly. 

After Mr. Stillpool had turned his thirtieth year, 
the business of Mr. Holt collapsed. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


19 


CHAPTER IV. 

don’t do things from policy.” 

Lyman Holt was one of the sterling business 
men of Pactolus — a man of stern integrity and hon- 
orable in all his dealings. 

He was about sixty years of age and still a very 
handsome man. He had a fine physique, an open, 
honest eye, and a ruddy face crowned by a cloud of 
line, white hair. 

He was in the oil business — manufacturing lubri- 
cating oil under a patent process. 

His income was about $10,000 to $16,000 a year. 

His family consisted of one son who was at col- 
lege, and a daughter about eighteen years of age. 

One afternoon, about two years before the events 
narrated in the opening chapters, Mr. Holt was in 
his office chatting with Dr. Clark, when two gentle 
men entered. 

“ How do you do, Mr. Sinclair ? Mr. Reed, I am 
glad to see you,” said Mr. Holt, shaking hands. Be 
seated. Excuse me,” he added, turning to the doc- 
tor. Gentlemen, this is Dr. Clark.” 

“Ah! doctor, eh!” said Mr. Reed. “I hope you 
are squeezing some of his fat fees into oil.” 


20 THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 

^'No, no,” said the doctor, ‘‘I don’t si)ecnlate. I 
can make more money feeling the pulse of my pa 
tients, than the pulse of the market.” 

And the doctor bowed himself out. 

The gentlemen made themselves comfortable, and 
as they smoked they discussed trade in a general 
way. 

After a while, Mr. Reed said : “ By the way, Holt, 
how would you like to sell out ? ” 

Sell out ? ” said Holt, in surprise. 

‘‘Yes, and retire. You have been a pretty hard 
worker for a long time and I should think you would 
like a little rest.” 

“Well,” said Holt, “as far as rest is concerned, I 
never felt less need of it, and I have no desire to sell 
out. Why do you ask such a question ? ” 

“Well, there was no special reason,” said Sinclair, 
“except that the Banner Company is going into 
your line and may run you a little hard in competi- 
tion.” 

“ I never yet Avas afraid of competition, and I hope 
I never will be,” said Holt rather warmly. 

“ I don’t suppose you are,” said Reed. “ But at 
the same time it is pretty hard to buck against the 
company.” 

“ I don’t think I am bucking against the company,” 
said Holt. 

“ But you are,” said Reed. 

“ I don’t see how that can be,” said Holt. “ Th^ 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


21 


company does not make the kind of oil that I 
do.” 

But they want to,” said Sinclair with a mean- 
ing smile. 

“Well,” said Holt, hotly; “they can’t and they 
won’t. 

“Now, now! ” said Reed, soothingly, “there is no 
occasion for getting angry. This is business. The 
company want to make a proposition in a friendly 
spirit.” 

“Well,” said Holt, “what is the proposition in a 
friendly spirit ? ” 

“Of course,” said Reed, “you understand that 
the company is very rich and has considerable 
power ” 

“ I don’t care a d m for their riches or their 

power,” burst out Mr. Holt. 

“ Now, one moment, please. I know you don’t care 
for that but, as a matter of policy ” 

“ Policy! I don’t do things from policy,” burst out 
Holt.” 

“ I know you don’t, and I was unfortunate in the 
selection of words. I meant to say, as a matter of 
business don’t you think it would be better to be on 
friendly terms with the company ? ” 

“ I don’t care whether I am on friendly terms with 
them or not,” said Mr. Holt with dignity. 

Mr. Reed smiled good-naturedly as he made a 
gesture of despair. 


22 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


‘‘We don’t suppose you do care for the company. 
Why should you ? But the fact is the company 
want to branch out in your line and it was suggested 
that your plant might be purchased. Now, that is 
the whole business, blunt and to the point. That is,” 
Reed added with a smile, “provided a thing can 
come to a point if it is blunt.” 

“Well,” said Holt, with a grim smile, “we may 
find a point and a period too. Now you must ex- 
cuse me, gentlemen, if I seem a little discourteous ; 
but I will tell you frankly that I do not like either 
the company or its methods of doing business. Now, 
what do you propose ? ” 

“ It was suggested,” said Sinclair, “ that you set a 
price on your plant and the Company will consider 
it.” 

“ But,” said Holt, “ suppose I don’t want to sell ? ” 

“ I have no reason to feel any but the most friendly 
feelings toward you, and in that spirit as a friend, I 
advise you to sell.” This was said by Reed, gravely 
and earnestly. “Now, Mr. Holt,” he added, “if you 
will consider the matter we will call to see you again.” 
He paused — “ When ? ” 

“ For an answer as to whether I will sell or not ? ” 

“And your price,” added Reed. 

“ Provided it gets as far as that,” said Holt. 

“Always provided,” said Reed. 

“Well, then, Wednesday next. Is that conven- 
ient ? ” said Holt. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


23 


“Thanks, that will do,-’ said Sinclair; and the in- 
terview ended. 

By the following W ednesday, Mr. Holt had made 
up his mind that he would offer his plant to the 
company for $100,000, which was a fair valuation, all 
things considered. 

He had not come to this conclusion until he had 
discussed the matter with a number of practical men. 

Messrs. Reed and Sinclair received his offer, and 
said they would present it to the company. 

The next day they returned and made Mr. Holt 
an offer of $50,000 and position as superintendent at 
a salary of $5,000. 

Mr. Holt indignantly rejected the offer and said, 
“ Gentlemen, I have carried on this business single- 
handed for twenty-five years and with your kind 
permission I shall continue io do so.” 



24 


THE KEIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER V. 

MR. HOLT FIGHTS THE COMPANY. 

The next week Mr. Holt’s agents in the oil fields 
informed him that the railroads had refused to ship 
supplies to him. Indignant demands of the cause 
on the Railroad Company brought polite replies to 
the effect that their contract with the Banner Com- 
pany taxed their facilities to the utmost. 

Living in a free country, a rich man, clear-headed, 
doing a large business and having an influential 
connection both business and social, Mr. Holt con- 
sidered such conduct an outrage. He protested, 
sputtered, talked about his “rights,” the “obliga- 
tions of common carriers,” “justice” and all such 
nonsense. He undertook to fight and failed. He 
tried to prepare his oil at the wells and carry it to 
the market by water at ruinous expense, and failed. 
He tried the courts and failed; the legislature and 
failed. His antics were as amusing to the Banner 
Company as the struggles of the fly in the spider web 
are supposed to be to the cunning spider. 

In six months he was bankrupt and retired, broken 
in health, broken in fortune and with a broken 
heart, and as we have seen two years after sent 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


25 


to prison for defending his daughter from abduc- 
tion. 

“ Strange vicissitudes of fortune,” many of his 
friends said in sympathetic comment and hundreds 
of them subsequently met with fortunes which w^ere 
fully as bad as that of Mr. Holt. 

There was a kindly current of human sympathy 
which went out to the struggling manufacturer fight- 
ing for his rights and justice, and any amount of 
wordy encouragement ; but of practical aid, none. 
Everybody wished him well, — success and even tri- 
umph, but no one gave him help of a practical 
character. 

What could his friends and neighbors do ? If 
they could do anything, why should they go out of 
their way to do it ? Friendship is very well, but it 
must not interfere with business ; this is a selfish 
world. Money was what they were after. They had 
no time for anything else. 

They would have been pleased to have aided him, 
but the rule was “ Every man for himself.” 

One of his friends summed the matter up thus, 
‘‘ he is in the position of a man in a whirl-pool, if 
we go to his aid we may be swamped ourselves ; 
self-preservation is the first law of nature, he has 
brought the trouble on himself, he should have com- 
promised, — life is too short to wastaany of it in try- 
ing to save cranks.” 

^‘But,” protested another, ‘‘he is fighting for a 


26 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


principle, what happens to him may happen to all 
of us. I tell you there is danger in allowing this 
thing to go on; we ought to join forces and aid Holt.” 

Nonsense,” said another, his is an isolated case. 
I don’t think the company can do any general harm, 
there is a limit to their powers of mischief, and if 
there was anything of a general onslaught made by 
the company against the business interests of the 
community, there would be a general uprising which 
would clean it out. In the mean time, poor Holt is 
unfortunate, he will have to go, as one of the atoms 
which stand in the way of corporate progress and 
the spirit of combination which is one of the irre- 
pressible elements of the age.” 

Mr. Holt’s business was sold with its secrets, 
patents and processes, — the Banner Company were 
the purchasers; then the dreaming of Mr. Stilpool 
became practical, his opportunity had come, the 
company took him into its employ. Inside of one 
year he developed great skill as a negotiator and 
organizer. 

In the East were large factories and mills capable 
of supplying the world with all kinds of commodi- 
ties — cotton and woollen goods, shoes and household 
supplies. Such was their capacity that they could 
by working from four to six months stock the mar- 
kets of the whole country with goods sufficient to 
last a year or more. They were a source of national 
pride and national ruin. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


27 


Between these mills and factories there was a sui- 
cidal competition. 

The idea of utilizing the vast capital of these mills 
and factories by concentrating or consolidating their 
business with that of the Banner Company was 
conceived and planned by Stilpool ; he presented it 
to the managers of the Banner Company. The idea 
was scouted as visionary and impracticable, but he 
brought facts and figures to his aid, which caused 
the opijosition to soften and dissolve until the feasi- 
bility of the scheme found its most enthusiastic ad- 
vocates in its former most incredulous opponents. 

The directors called a meeting to discuss the mat- 
ter, and Stilpool, after laying his facts, figures, and 
plans before the board, said, 

“ The object of this corporation is to make money, 
it was created to make money in one branch of the 
oil business, it now makes money in all of its 
branches. It has sovereign control of one product 
of the country, its members control a large portion 
of the railroad interests of the whole country. Why 
should those two great interests in the hands of the 
same men be kept separate? The saving in agencies 
and salaries and general wear and tear Avill go far 
towards swelling the dividends, and much of the 
money which now goes outside of the company will 
be kept within its circle. 

It seems incongruous, yet we see so-called dry- 
goods stores selling under one roof and under one 


28 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


management everything a man or woman can wear 
or use; various necessaries of life which a few years 
ago you would be obliged to seek in one hundred 
and fifty different stores, in one hundred different 
kinds of business, you now find in one store, under 
one man’s control. One great expense in business 
is labor. As you concentrate business you reduce 
the demand for labor, here you see a vast profit in 
saved pay-rolls. This is done profitably on a small 
scale, why not on a large scale ? It is done retail, 
why not wholesale ? The more you concentrate bus- 
iness the less it costs to manage it. Then look at 
the expense of competition, why should capitalists 
waste their efforts in fighting among themselves ? 
They must live on masses who are ready and willing 
to toil for them. By concentrating these various 
interests your incomes will be expanded to an un- 
heard-of extent.” " 

Mr. Stilj)o^(^ ,<as sent to negotiate with the Eastern 
mill owners «and manufacturers. After a few visits 
and in the course of a few months, several of the 
largest were won over; those Avho refused to be 
convinced by arguments were brought into line by 
harsher measures ; those who stood out stubbornly 
were crushed as was poor Mr. Holt. 

The capital of the company Avas now enormous 
and its power terrible; the great grain syndicate 
next united its interests with the Banner Company, 
thus the grain product of the West, the manufacto- 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 2 ^ 

ries of the East, the oil and coal product of the sea- 
board, the great commodities of the South as well as 
a large portion of the railroads of the country were 
united under one management. Mr. Stilpool’s proph- 
ecy was fulfilled. The skilful manipulation of these 
interests with the absence of competition, the power 
to regulate the supply to meet the demand, yielded 
the company vast profits and enabled the directors 
to pay large dividends. The stock of the company 
rose rapidly. Then it was discovered that the char- 
ter of the Banner Company was not broad enough 
and its powers and its capital was limited. A new 
company was formed, and a charter procured from 
the legislature, worded so as to give it unlimited 
power and unlimited capital. 

Mr. Stilpool had not forgotten his self-interest ; from 
his position in the company, he had been able to 
benefit friends and profited by the benefit of his 
friends, so that in the course of less one year, 
his interest in the company had increased from a 
small salary to a large amount of dividend-bearing 
stock. He also had a large constituency among the 
stockholders, who recognized his services and his 
ability to further serve them by electing him, in turn, 
secretary, vice-president, and president of the com- 
pany. 


1 


30 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER VI, 

“every man for HIMSELF.” 

The moral tone of the community was in a condi- 
tion to welcome the Company and its consequences. 
Vast numbers of people proclaimed by word and 
deed that they were tired of what was called “ goody- 
goody ” conduct. They emphasized their contemj)t 
for honor and integrity, by applauding success 
though won by flagrant treachery or even theft. 
Nowhere were lax morals more apparent than in the 
selection of men for public offices. 

If a candidate was what was termed “ smart,” he 
might safely ignore or flagrantly violate most of his 
moral obligations without fear of losing the suffrages 
of his constituents, and in many instances a swag- 
gering contempt for honesty and morality resulted 
in the election of a candidate by an overwhelming 
majority, especially where honesty or morality was 
the issue. 

In explanation of such results the j^ress would say 
that the people liked the “ manly frankness of the 
rascal ” or that the people had “ rebuked hypocrisy.” 

Even the citizens from whom most was expected, 
who had most at stake, would vote for a man of 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


31 


notorious incapacity or dishonesty for no other rea- 
son than that they or some of their friends had a 
personal interest in his election. 

Tlie political methods were such that a self-respect- 
ing man could not seek office without doing or be- 
coming a party to acts which were not only dishon- 
est or dishonorable, but even acts bordering on 
crime. Selfishness rather than public spirit was the 
motive power. Lax morals were apparent in the 
shirking of public duties, especially the duties of 
a juror. Many judges were corrupt and perpetrated 
the most cruel outrages in relation to the liberty and 
property of citizens. 

When we consider what the people had to con- 
tend against, it is not to be wondered at that they 
yielded to temptation and followed in the train of 
corruj)tion, which seemed to be indigenous to the 
times. There was the ever present example of the 
most prodigal extravagance and applauded success. 
A man’s expenditures were the index of his wealth 
and his wealth was an index of his worth. To imi- 
tate the extravagances of a petty prince was the 
highest ambition of society, to get into the circle of 
those who could imitate such extravagance was the 
ambition of most people outside of that circle; then 
came the struggle to get the money for keeping up 
such extravagant methods of living; and a desperate 
struggle it was— honor, justice and friendship were 
forgotten and even good name and personal liberty 


32 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

were risked in the struggle. Speculation was rife in 
every line of life and business. Business was de- 
moralized. 

In the mad struggle for Avealth, every obligation 
was forgotten. Friends betrayed friends, promises 
were broken and the most solemn obligations were 
ignored. 

Men' women and children gambled; distrust was 
the rule, and more than ever every man for him- 
self,” became the motto for individuals. The doings 
of the company were heralded abroad in the most 
extravagant manner and all sorts of interest clamored 
for admission to its privileges, each acquisition 
seemed to enhance the value of its stock ; it was a 
wild era of speculation. The wildest rumors were 
set afloat in regard to the transactions of the com- 
pany. 

To pay tribute to the Cmsar in being was the effort 
of every one. Some one has said, ‘‘ If you don’t need 
help everybody is ready to help you.” Never was tliis 
saying more effectually exemplifled ; everything that 
the citizens could do to aid in the aggrandizement 
of the company was done eagerly and with alacrity. 

Legislatures were memorialized to grant more and 
more extraordinary powers. Powers and rights 
heretofore unheard of were granted almost Avithout 
question — measures which had always been regarded 
as inimical to personal liberty or dangerous to pub- 
lic weal Avere introduced in the legislature and those 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


33 


who opposed them were hooted at as public ene- 
mies and after a brief struggle (if a futile remon- 
strance followed by a storm of hisses or a sneering 
speech could be called a struggle) passed. 

A legislator remarked : 

“ The people know what they are after, the legis- 
lature knows wdiat it is after, and the company 
knows what it is after.” ‘‘ Every one for himself and 
for money.” 

The company industriously reported every case 
where a fortune was made or advanced in its stocks, 
and with equal industry suppressed the report of 
individual losses. 

Until it had been in existence about two years 
the company’s management was honest. Then the 
directors began a series of manipulations of the 
earnings of the company, which in time brought 
them nearly all into the hands of the directors; 
thousands and thousands of people who had money 
invested in the company’s stock were almost reduced 
to starvation as the company passed dividend after 
dividend. 

It must not be supposed that all this demoraliza- 
tion of society went on without protest. Such was 
not the case. There was a cry of reform all along 
the line. To do it justice, the press did its duty and 
exposed frauds, corruption and veniality. The pul- 
Xiit hung out its warnings of the dangers and the 
awful consequences of forgotten obligations, 

3 


34 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Publicists and essayists demonstrated in a thou- 
sand different ways, that civilization could not stand 
the strain of the corrupting inffuence at work on the 
body politic. 

Professional and business men discussed each new 
evidence of moral turpitude with serious mien. 
Grand jurors made presentments commenting upon 
the dangerous moral condition of society. 

Reform societies were started and flourished; re- 
form became a fashionable craze and a fashionable 
jest; still crimes multiplied; injustice spread and 
corruption flourished. 

In sjiite of all these efforts to promote reform (it 
cannot be said that the efforts were not serious), 
there was a feeling of impending evil, which seemed 
to urge the people to avoid the threatened danger, 
and yet, what could they do — what could all the edi- 
tors, preachers, essayists, and reformers do against 
the system which was honey-combing society with 
corruption ? Everybody knew it was wrong and 
admitted that it was dangerous and that it ought to 
be remedied; but what could be done, what could 
people do with a system which held them as if 
chained ? Money was the god they worshipped, 
without money man was a nonentity and the motto 
seemed to be, Get money anyway,” and so long as 
a man kept out of prison, it mattered little how he 
got it. 

The effect on business rapidly became apparent. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


oO 


^‘Business is dull,” Avas the constant cry. Manu- 
facturers in all parts of the country had to close 
their factories. In some instances the company 
took the plant and retained the former owner as 
su]3erintendent; in other cases the owners were not 
so fortunate. Mercantile houses met with the same 
fate. ‘‘ Business is dull,” was their cry. So that in 
every part of the country and especially in large 
cities, there Avas an ever-increasing number of men 
of good business ability, out of employment. 

Some of these men had money upon which they 
could live, but the great majority had saved very 
little from the wreck of their business. To them, 
immediate employment was a necessity. 

Men Avho had been spending five thousand, ten 
thousand, twenty-five thousand and even fifty thou- 
sand dollars a year found their income cut off often- 
times with only a feAv months’ warning. Men with 
a small income, from one to five thousand dollars a 
year, were in the same position. 

These people formed the great middle class, they 
Avere the intelligent, conservative and dependable 
middle class, the solid phalanx behind which gov- 
ernments have always sat in security while any just 
claim to confidence remained. 

This great breakwater of intelligence standing be- 
hind the people and the government on one side, 
and anarchy on the other, went down before the 
company’s methods. The strength of a nation lies 


36 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


in its middle class. The very poor are dangerous. 
The very rich are dangerous, — one is reckless and the 
other insolent. 

The middle class found itself rapidly dwindling 
away. Almost all branches of business were absorbed 
by the coinj)any and the business was systematized 
in such a way that it was done with less than one- 
half of the help than when j)erformed by private or 
independent individuals or corporations. This was 
especially apparent in the clerical departments of 
business. 

A great portion of the inhabitants were out of em- 
ployment, hunger was not unknown to the best and 
most industrious, meetings were held and riots 
threatened, communistic doctrines were eagerly em- 
braced by thoughtful, intelligent men ; hard times ” 
was the companion of the people in its most rigor- 
ous form, and charity was strained to its utmost limit 
by the stress of the times. 

A gentleman said, Soon there will be but two 
classes — the very rich and the very poor.” 

The poor were not limited to the unintelligent 
class; but intelligent, educated people of ability, 
merchants, bankers and mechanics, artisans and pro- 
fessional men, clerks and book-keepers whose occu- 
pations were absorbed by the company were all in- 
cluded in the poverty-stricken class. They found 
themselves sinking into poverty as helplessly as 
though they were in the midst of a quicksand; they 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 3T 

saw their belongings being absorbed by the monster 
corporation, and many of them were unable to save 
a dollar. 

The profits of their different occupations were 
j)ouring almost directly into the coffers of the com- 
pany; such property as they had acquired, such 
business as they had created or inherited, they could 
no more hold than they could hold a handful of fine, 
dry sand ; everything was slipping away. 

The press faithfully chronicled the condition of 
the country. It told of the myriad business failures. 
It gave graphic accounts of the gradual reduction of 
wages of clerks and other working people and espe- 
cially in the class where a low grade of intelligence 
and no education was required; it told of the mode 
of life of these people, their suffering, their degraded 
condition and the debasing effect of grinding pov- 
erty. Great enterprise was displayed by these jour- 
nals in sending writers of fine descriptive ability 
amongst poverty-stricken people and they produced 
articles which fairly bristled with horrors; they 
were made so interesting that at times the daily 
I)apers in the simple relation of the truth outdid the 
wildest extravagances of the romance-laden story 
paper. 

Injustice, cruelties, wrongs, and outrages were laid 
before the people with facts, figures, dates, localities, 
names and causes. 

The clerk, the mercliant, tlie manufacturer, the 


38 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


official, tlie legislator, eacli and all read tliese facts 
and when they had read them, threw their paper 
aside, expressed inexj^ensive sympathy and said, 

It does not concern me, every man must take care 
of himself.” Warnings of approaching danger to 
individual and locality were unheeded, people saw 
the effect of the encroachment of the company and 
saw it come almost to their own threshold, even 
crushing their next-door neighbor, and they said, 
‘^As long as I am safe, I need not trouble myself 
about it.” They saw it strike at their near relatives 
and said, I am too weak to fight the company and 
while I hold my own I will not complain.” Every 
man seemed to indulge in a wild hope that some 
lucky stroke of fortune would give him enough 
money to make him independent of his fellows and 
that circumstances would place him in a position 
where he could participate in the prosx)erity of the 
company. 

The dividends of the company were passed time 
and again. 

The board of directors of the company refused to 
render statements of what became of the earnings. 

Stockholders cited them before the courts, and 
the courts sustained the action of the board. 

The consolidated board in all its branches num- 
bered about two thousand five hundred members. 
At a meeting one of the members said, 

“ The earnings and the product of this country are 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


39 


little enoiigli for tlie support of twenty-five liundred 
families, if they live as people should live, and I 
see no reason why we should pay any more divi- 
dends.” 

“ What will you do with the earnings ? ” asked a 
member. 

“ Vote it to ourselves in the way of salaries,” was 
the reply. 

AVhat will the stockholders say ? ” asked an- 
other. 

^'They will say,” answered this bold director, 
‘^tliat we are a lot of swindlers and robbers and 
thieves and rascals, and that we are dishonest and 
unworthy of our trust, and they will say a lot of 
other impolite and vulgar things. People who have 
a grievance are very vulgar, and even if their com- 
plaints are just, their complaints are soon voted a 
bore.” 

‘‘And then ? ” queried several of the directors. 

“And then we will enjoy our incomes just the 
same.” 

“ How can we do it ? ” asked one of the board. 

“ How can we do it ? ” said the director with a 
laugh, “ why by simply doing it.” 

“ AVon’t it be inquired into and stopx)ed ? ” asked 
a director. 

“Yes,” said the proposer, “everything can be in- 
quired into, but it won’t do any good. We control 
the courts and the legislature and we can do as we 


40 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


please. Only about ten thousand or fifteen thousand 
people have stock in the company and the great 
mass of the people are too selfish to care for their 
grumbling. In fact I think they will be rather 
pleased with our smartness in the matter. Gentle- 
men, selfishness is the finest attribute in man’s nature 
to those who know how to utilize it.” 

The advice of this gentleman was followed to the 
great profit of the two thousand five hundred direc- 
tors. And in a short time, with a very few excep- 
tions, the company had nearly all the people of the 
country dependent upon it for employment. 

There were a few people who were able to make a 
meagre living outside of the company’s employment. 
There were a few who had saved ready money, but 
the great mass Avorked in the company’s jilants and 
for very low wages. 

There was only one grade of employment, and the 
wages were in all cases about the same. All the em- 
ployees, whether clerks, bookkeepers, mechanics or 
laborers, were called laborers. They worked under 
superintendents and overseers. 

Tlie directors daily grew more insolent in the treat- 
ment of the people, but the people were utterly help- 
less. 

The directors carried with them wliips, the end of 
the lash of which was supplied with a metal tassel. 
These whips were called ‘‘ scorpions.” They would 
cut into the flesh at every blow. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


41 


Some of them were of silver and even gold. Those 
the ladies carried were works of art. 

Both sexes used them on the slightest provoca- 
tion and in a most cruel manner. The overseers and 
superintendents were also supplied with these weap- 
ons, and used them to enforce the discijpline of the 
work shops and factories. 

These changes were gradual. 

The company’s advance was slow but sure. 

The company never yielded a point or receded 
from a position it had taken. 


42 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER VIL 

DR. CLARK — LABORER. 

After the police had taken her father away, the 
women carried Maud Holt into the house; they laid 
her on her bed in one of the miserable rooms which 
she called her home. 

The women remained with her until she was suf- 
ficiently recovered to sit up. 

Towards evening the girl roused herself from her 
grief sufficiently to prepare supper for the family, 
which consisted of her father, her brother Randolph, 
and Dr. Clark. 

Dr. Clark was Maud’s accepted lover. 

In setting the table she laid four plates. Suddenly 
she recollected that her father’s place would not be 
occupied, and her grief burst out afresh. 

Randolph came in at about seven o’clock, looking 
very gloomy. 

‘‘ORand!” cried the girl, as she threw herself 
into his arms and again burst into a passion of tears. 
As she sobbed on his breast she tried to tell liim of 
her father’s evil fortune. 

I know all about it,” he said as he placed the 
weeping girl in a chair. He then went to the win- 
dow and stood gazing out into the darkness. 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


43 


A step was heard outside; the door opened and a 
tall fine-looking man entered. 

This was Dr. Rufus Clark, Maud’s affianced hus- 
band. 

Rufus Clark was thirty-five years of age. He had 
graduated with high honors at college, studied med-^ 
icine, had taken his degree and by his natural abili- 
ties and the aid of wealthy and infiuential Mends 
rapidly built up a large practice. 

His family was wealthy and his entrance on man- 
hood gave promise of an exceptionally successful 
career. He was now laborer No. 5864, in squad 908, 
in the company’s sugar storage yard. He worked 
from 6 A.M. to 8 p.m., and earned five dollars per 
week. 

It was difficult to recognize in the coarsely clad, 
horny-handed laborer the petted child of fortune 
who had once been an ornament to the most brilliant 
drawing rooms, as well as a respected and brilliant 
member of his profession. 

Yet, there he stands — a day laborer tired out by 
his day’s work. Strange as it may seem, he was 
guilty of no vice or crinie which might have caused 
him to become an outcast from the sphere in which 
he was born. 

He was not a arunkard, a gambler, an idler, nor a 
criminal. He was merely one of millions of victims 
of a system which degraded not only his special cir- 
cle or set, but his race. 


44 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


His father had been a business man of large ability 
and great enterprise, starting in life with a small 
retail book store. He increased his business by de- 
grees until he had one of the largest stores in the 
city. Recognizing the fact that there were larger 
margins of profits in other trades, he gradually took 
in other branches of business. He carried on one or 
two at first, then increased the number until the 
stock of his store was as varied as a ]3ublic fair. 
AVith pride he would say: “A customer can pur- 
chase at retail everything he or she needs without 
going from under my roof.” 

How convenient,” people said. AVhat a bene- 
fit,” How much trouble it saves; ” and they might 
have added, how much trouble it made. 

Clark’s bazaar ruined or drove out of business 
more than five hundred men and women who were 
earning a moderate living in small retail stores, and 
he deprived of labor more than a thousand clerks, 
men and women. 

He secured the income of these five hundred retail- 
ers, and it was a princely income for one man. He 
did it by what is called fair competition.” 

He paid his debts, he worked hard, and he lived 
like a prince. 

People said he was a great benefactor, because he 
gave emifioyment to so many people. The same 
people knew that lie did not emijloy half so many 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


45 


clerks or pay nearly as high wages as did the five 
hundred small dealers whom he had displaced. 

The general public love the glitter and glare of 
enterprise and success. What mattered it to the 
public if five hundred or a thousand people were 
ousted from business, or thousands lost their em- 
ployment ? At Clark’s things were as cheap or 
cheaper than at the smaller stores. At Clark’s you 
could often pick up bargains. At Clark’s there was 
always a jostling crowd. Clark’s looked prosperous 
and was in a democratic way fashionable. 

Clark was a big fish ; he had swallowed lots of lit- 
tle fish, but unfortunately for Clark, there was a 
bigger fish than he. 

Half a dozen gentlemen of large means met one 
evening and had a good dinner. They felt very 
buoyant and haj)py. They had been engaged in a 
little speculation and had greatly increased their 
wealth, and they chatted and sipi)ed their wine. 

Accidentally, Clark’s bazaar and its wonderful 
j)rosperity was referred to. These gentlemen dis- 
cussed it in an idle way for some time, then one of 
their number said, Why can’t Ave use a little of our 
surplus cash in a bazaar ? It will pay a nice percent- 
age.” 

How do you mean ? ” said another. 

‘‘ Hun it as a stock concern,” said the first speaker. 

Whom could you get to run it ? ” said a third. 

“No trouble about that,” said a fourth. “Get 


46 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Clark’s suiierintendent. I think it’s a good scheme. 
I don’t know of anything which will pay better for 
a steady.” 

‘‘ Why not buy Clark out ? ” said the first speaker. 

The comj)any separated after having resolved to 

look into it.” 

They did look into it ” and saw Clark, offered to 
buy him out or freeze him out, whichever he chose. 

Clark had too intimate a knowledge of money to 
stand in the way of that powerful engine, and he 
sold out clean. 

Clark was now a caj)italist, twice a millionaire. 
He might have lived luxuriously on his money, but 
he was a business man and wanted to make more. 
He would have opened another bazaar, but a mem- 
ber of the syndicate had in a friendly way hinted to 
him that the syndicate would not have any competi- 
tion, so he speculated in the Supply Company’s stock 
which was then beginning to boom, made money, 
lost, made and lost again, recovered, and made a final 
loss, lost heart and became dependent on his son who 
was building up a j)ractice in medicine. 

As the grip of the company became firmer and 
firmer on the industries and products of the country, 
and the profits were more and more diverted to the 
coffers of the company. Dr. Clark’s income de- 
creased. He had plenty to do, but peojde did not 
have money to pay doctors’ bills. Things went on 
from bad to worse, until he, with thousands of 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


47 


others, was obliged to abandon his profession and 
take employment as a day laborer or at anything 
better that he could get. 

His rich and influential friends could do nothing 
for him, as those who were not as poor as he had all 
they could do to look after the interests of their near 
relatives. In fact it was through the favor of a 
friend that he was able to hold his place as a laborer. 

There were tens of thousands of learned physi- 
cians and skilled chemists whom the company could 
employ when needed for a mere song. In fact edu- 
cation and ability counted for nothing. They were 
a detriment in the struggle for bread. 

The overseers protested against the employment 
of educated men in the company’s yard. “They 
ain’t no good,” one of them said. “ You don’t want 
no education to roll a barrel of sugar.” 

But Dr. Clark had his choice. He could either 
work fifteen hours a day for live dollars a week, or 
starve. 

Such was the man who entered the room. Maud 
ros<^ with an effort and ha If -staggered across the 
room. 

Dr. Clark caught her in his arms. 

“ They have taken father away,” she cried. 

“ Where ? ” he exclaimed, holding her off so as to 
look into her face. “ Where ? ” 

“ To prison.” 

“ To prison ? Why ? ” 


48 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Oh, I don’t know. My head hurts so ; they say 
it’s my fault,” and the poor girl moaned piteously. 
Then she looked up eagerly into his face. 

“ It wasn’t my fault, was it, was it ? ” 

no, of course not,” he said, consolingly. 
“ How did it happen ? ” 

Oh, she made a fool of herself as usual and got 
us into all this trouble,” exclaimed her brother in a 
despairing tone. 

“ But I couldn’t go with him. Could I, Ruf, could 
I, could I ? And the poor girl clung to the doctor 
as she looked appealingly into his face. 

Why, what does she mean ? ” asked the doctor, 
turning to her brother. 

Her brother related the facts. At the mention of 
the name of Griffin, the doctor became deadly pale. 

It is horrible,” he said. “ It would have been 
better if you had offended any one rather than 
Griffin.” 

‘^But I couldn’t help it. I was frightened and he 
was so rough, and I didn’t know they would send 
father to prison. I couldn’t go with him, could I ? ” 
But the poor girl looked in vain for encouragement 
in the face of her lover. He looked very grave for a 
moment, then said : 

“ You might have acted a little more gently, so as 
not to provoke him. We may lose our work. AVhat 
could we do then ? ” 

If, to the average reader, this seems an unheroic 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


40 


way for a lover and brother to speak and act in re- 
gard to conduct such as in the incident related, let 
such reader go among the poor bread winners, and 
he may be able to hear of similar matters treated and 
discussed in a similar manner, when it is a question 
of the saving, winning or earning of a few dollars. 

Yes, and in these present times and in all great 
centres of civilization. A grave question confronts 
us here. Are we not, in so steadily and selfishly 
pursuing pennies and dollars, becoming a nation of 
spiritless milksops ? 

The girl cast herself loose from her lover’s arms 
and stood erect, indignant and defiant, with flashing 
eyes, as she demanded: 

“ Do you call yourselves men to talk in that way ? ” 

The doctor buried his face in his hands, and in a 
hollow voice said: ' 

‘‘No, Maud, we are not men. We are slaves.” 

The girl sank into a chair and the two men went 
out into the night. 

Stung to the quick by Maud’s reflection of their 
manhood, they held a whispered conversation. 

“ But,” said Randolph, speaking in a startled tone, 
“ if we are caught, the penalty is death.” 

“ It is only a choice between death on the gallows, 
or death by starvation,” answered the doctor, in des- 
perate earnestness. “ I cannot live on the food my 
wages will furnish. I feel myself growing weaker, 
mentally and physically, daily. I feel that I am de- 
4 


50 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


generating into the condition of a man whose sole 
ambition is to get enough to eat.” 

“ If I die,” said Randolph, “ who will protect my 
father and sister ? ” 

“ Who protects them now ? ” said the doctor bit- 
terly. “ Suppose any one of the directors chose to 
have them committed to their care or to the house 
of industry, can you interfere ? Can you protect 
them ? ” 

“You are right,” said Randolph. “The tyranny 
of the company has 'become intolerable, and death 
is preferable to our present condition.” 

That night they took the oath which united their 
fortunes with that of the league. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


51 


CHAPTER VTIL 

WHERE MR. felon’s MILLIONS WENT. 

About the time that Mr. Holt’s business went to 
wreck, Gen. Daniel Sinclair met with a stroke of for- 
tune which speedily placed him amongst the great 
capitalists of the city. 

He had lived for over fifty years without being 
specially successful in any branch of business and 
had not been able to accumulate much money. At 
this time he was worth twenty -five thousand dollars. 
He would probably not have had even this much 
money were it not for the assistance and kindly 
hints of his friend Cyrus Pelon. 

The friendship between Cyrus Pelon and Daniel 
Sinclair was one of those singularly unaccountable 
episodes which oftentimes puzzle intelligent men. 
These two men were the direct opposite in tempera- 
ment and did not seem to have one idea in common. 

Nearly every one who had any dealings with Mr. 
Sinclair knew him to be a man of very little busi- 
ness morality. 

Mr. Pelon seemed to be wilfully blind to this phase 
of his character as he was to his other shortcomings, 
and they were many and apparent. 

Mr. Pelon was very rich. He was one of those 


52 


THE REIGN OE SELFISHNESS. 


men who seem to make fortune their servant. He 
was a widower with one son, his wife having died 
from pneumonia, and as several of his friends had 
also died from the same disease about the same time, 
he became so alarmed for his son’s health that he 
sent him, when he was aged sixteen years, to Heidel- 
berg to be educated, at the same time having in mind 
the further purpose of avoiding the severe changes 
of the city climate. 

Leon had been in Heidelberg four years when his 
father was taken sick with the same disease ; and, 
as he lay ui)on his death bed, he sent for Mr. Sin- 
clair. After the usual greeting, he said: Dan, if I 
should die^- — ” 

‘^Nonsense,” said Sinclair, ^Hhere is no die about 
you.” 

But if I should die, I leave Leon well provided 
for. I leave all my estate to him, and he will live 
the life of a gentleman ” 

‘‘ What’s the use of talking of such remote contin- 
gencies,” said Sinclair. ‘‘You will be on your feet 
directly and as good as any of us.” 

That’s all right,” said Felon ; but, as I was say- 
ing, I will leave him seven millions. I had hoped to 
make it ten before I died, but by judicious handling, 
it will reach ten millions in five years. 

‘‘ Now, Dan, I don’t know any one who could man- 
age the estate as well as you, so I have named you 
sole executor and guardian of the boy.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


53 


“ I am sure I am flattered,” said Sinclair. 

It is not a matter of compliment, Dan, I well 
know it is a selflsli world, —damned selflsli. I selected 
you because I thought you could do better with the 
estate than any of my other friends.” 

‘‘ Still,” said Dan, that is flattery.” 

Well, it is,” said the sick man. 

The next day the disease took an unfavorable 
turn and two days after Mr. Felon was dead. 

Leon’s grief was in a measure assuaged when Mr. 
Sinclair notifled him in a kindly letter of his father’s 
death, and that he might draw on the estate to the 
extent of ten thousand a year. 

Leon’s father had not been particularly liberal 
towards him so far as giving him spending money, 
and consequently he did not know much about 
spending, but he readily learned. 

He came to Pactolus to attend to some legal for- 
malities, and stopped at Sinclair’s house. 

Here lie renewed his acquaintance with Millicent 
Sinclair, the playmate of his school days, now grown 
to a beautiful and lovable girl, and in the course 
of his visit they grew to be very fond of each 
other. 

After three months’ sojourn in Sinclair’s home (the 
happiest of his life) Mr. Sinclair told Leon he must 
return to Heidelberg. Leon did so reluctantly, but 
was buoyed up on his departure by the assurance 
that in a few months he would have the pleasure of 


54 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


accompanying Mrs. Sinclair and Millicent on a tour 
throiigli Europe. 

On liis return to Heidelberg Leon got in with a 
fast crowd and lived very rapidly. 

Millicent and her mother appeared in due sea- 
son and Leon spent several months travelling with 
them. 

Millicent was a girl who (as the phrase goes) wore 
well, and before their tour was ended she and Leon 
were engaged to be married. 

Leon wanted to come to Pactolus with Millicent 
and her mother, but Mr. Sinclair telegraphed a neg- 
ative. 

Leon nominally returned to Heidelberg, but most of 
his time was spent in Paris and the other capitals of 
Europe, and thus he acquired a thorough education 
in the art of spending money. 

He always anticipated his income and tried to 
augment it by gambling, with the usual result. 

It is a curious thing that a man with ten to twenty 
thousand a year can be chronically hard up,” and 
go about with the hungry look of a tramp and act 
as if he does not know where his next meal will 
come from. 

Leon soon got into that condition ; he had a des- 
perate, wild, and oftentimes weary look. AVith him 
it was a deadly struggle to make ends meet. It was 
almost pathetic to hear him say to his friends, If 
my income were only twenty thousand a year or even 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


55 


lifteen tliousand, I would be comfortable, but tills 
eternal scraping and scrimping drives me wild.” 

He had written to Mr. Sinclair in this strain and 
Mr. Sinclair had replied tersely: ‘‘That he knew a 
great many young men who lived quite comfortably 
on a great deal less than ten thousand a year.” 

Leon frequently borrowed on the strength of his 
anticipated remittances. 

One day there came a letter from Mr. Sinclair’s at- 
torney which stated that owing to changes in the 
financial and industrial markets, the securities in 
which his father’s estate were invested had not been 
paying dividends for some time, and it was hard to 
say when he could expect another remittance. The 
letter wound up by expressing the hope that Leon 
had been prudent and had saved enough money to 
tide him over the stringent times. 

As a matter of course Leon was astonished to re- 
ceive such a communication. He could not under- 
stand it. He was dreadfully in need of money at 
that very moment and as the phrase goes : “ he was 
almost wild.” He telegraphed to Mr. Sinclair that 
he must have money and at once, and to realize on 
securities. 

The reply came that there was no market for them. 

In a fine frenzy of indignation, Leon sold what- 
ever he had in the way of personal proi)erty, jew- 
elry, etc., and sailed for Pactolus. 


56 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER IX. 

LIZZIE. 

General Sinclair and Colonel Reed were prom- 
inent in the directory of the United Supply Com- 
pany. 

They were men of large wealth. They were highly 
respected in the only circle then recognized. 

They had what is known as grown-np families, 
and they were both in love or had a passion for the 
same young woman. 

They were in love with the same woman, and she 
was not specially beautiful, and in the face of the 
fact that there were numbers of more beautiful 
women whom either might have loved without com- 
petition, their share of the jierverse in human nature 
caused these two men to centre their affections (such 
as they were) on the same woman. 

Lizzie Hester was one of those persons who seem 
to glide through life without friction. She was what 
is known as amiable and womanly. 

With the audacity of weakness, she cast herself 
into the arms of fortune and fortune carried her 
with an amused smile. 

She took good fortune as a matter of course. She 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


57 


was always grateful for little comforts and kindnesses. 
She treated them as guests expected, but if misfor- 
tunes or annoyances (few and seldom though they 
were) came, she received them with such a pretty, 
surprised pout that every one felt in duty bound to 
expel them as intruders. 

“Oh, dear, dear, what shall I do ? ” she would say 
in the most helpless way. “ AVon’t you help me ? ” 

Nobody could say why they should help her, and 
nobody could say why they shouldn’t, and so she got 
Avhat she wanted and nobody grudged what they 
gave. 

She never did anything in return, because nobody 
expected it. 

If any one found fault with her, she opened her 
eyes in an amazed, grieved sort of way, and said: 

“ I didn’t mean to. Please forgive me ; there’s a 
dear.” 

“ Her manners are simjDly delightful,” said a friend, 
and so they were. 

They were as sweet and as incapable of analysis as 
the perfume of a violet. 

She was a perfect listener. It was pleased interest 
which was flatteringly punctuated with questions 
which were still more flattering, and when occasion 
])ermitted a round, full, gushing, merry laugh forced 
happiness upon every hearer. 

“ She has a beautiful figure,” said Sinclair, and he 
was a good judge. 


58 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


There were thousands of j^rettier faces to be seen 
every day, but hers carried with it a certain tender 
pleading manner which softened the hardest heart. 

Slie was a waif Avithout parents or relative. Her 
parents died of starvation. 

Tliey had the usual food of a laborer in the em- 
ploy of the company and occasionally a little meat, 
but this food was not sufficiently nourishing to sus- 
tain them in their labor, so they died of consump- 
tion — her father first and then her mother followed 
in a short time. 

This couple had been brought up daintily. AVhen 
they married everything was bright. The father 
had a good situation, but his employer’s business 
went to pieces under the pressure of the company, 
and he was thrown out of employment. 

He struggled with the energy of despair to get 
other work, but there were tens of thousands out of 
work and he Avas obliged to take a laborer’s place to 
supply his AAufe and child Avith the poorest neces- 
saries of life. But tAA^elve to fifteen hours of hard 
work, exposure, insufficient clothing and lack of 
nutritious food brought him to a pauper’s grave in 
two years. 

Lizzie, the poor, helpless orphan, was taken in by 
Mrs. Newcomb, one of the neighbors, and cared for. 
Mrs. NeAvcomb could ill afford it, although she had 
no children of her oAvn. That is a beautiful charac- 
teristic of the poor and unfortunate which causes 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


59 


them to share their crust and roof Avith the helpless. 
So Lizzie did not suffer from want and cold. 

When she was seventeen years of age, she Avas em- 
ployed in one of the large factories. Here she acci- 
dentally met Col. Malden Reed. 

He at once took her to his office and very shortly 
installed her in a jileasant cottage. 

She did not object and her friends did not object, 
because they knew it was idle to object; a director’s 
Avill was law. 

After the colonel had taken Lizzie, Mrs. iSTewcomb 
called at his office. She met him as he was going 
out. 

“ May I speak to you, sir ? ” she said. 

Well, what is it ? ” he asked. 

“ It is about Lizzie.” 

“ Well, what of her ? ” he said, frowning. 

“ My husband and I would like to see her once in 
a while.” 

The colonel made an impatient gesture and was 
about to speak, but the jjoor woman, rendered des- 
perate by her love for the girl, went on : 

We have taken care of her for a long time, sir; 
we have nursed her when she was sick; we have 
shared our room with her, and the little we have to 
eat.” 

“Well ? ” he said, impatiently. 

The woman went on : 

“She is a sweet girl, she always was kind and 


60 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


good; she nursed me when I was ill for months; she 
worked and kept the house for me; she was the only 
jdeasure we had. We love her.” 

‘‘Well?” 

“ I — I wanted to ask you, sir, if you would not let 
us see her once in a while.” 

The colonel shook his head. 

Mrs. Newcomb clasped her hands and went on 
with tears in her eyes : 

“ Only once in a while ? ” 

The colonel shook his head. 

“ Only once in a while. ? ” she alm_ost wailed. 

Still the cruel shaking of the head. 

“ It isn’t much. She is all we have and you are 
such a great, rich man and have so much.” 

Still the head shook. 

“ Please grant us that little favor — once a week ? ” 
cried the poor woman. 

The colonel shook his head. 

“ Once a month — only once a month, just to talk 
to her for a few minutes ? We love her — we love 
her.” 

The last words were a beseeching cry. 

“ Now, see here,” said the colonel, sharply, “ I said 
No.” 

The woman threw up her hands as if to ward off a 
blow. 

“What business have you people to talk about 
love ? You had better attend to your work. That 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 61 

is tlie kind of nonsense yon are thinking about in- 
stead of doing your work properly. Every time you 
go fooling about these personal matters, you rob the 
comanpy of so much time which they pay you for.” 

‘‘Osir!” she cried. ‘‘It won’t interfere with the 
work. We would see her at night or in the morn- 
ing.” 

“ She don’t want to see you,” he said contemptu- 
ously. 

“ She does, oh, I know she does ! Please let me 
try, please, please ! ” 

“ She dresses like a lady, looks like a lady, lives 
like a lady. What will she want with such a crea- 
ture as you ? She is not a fool.” 

“Please, please, let us see her once more — only 
once, only once!” And the woman knelt on the 
floor wringing her hands. 

“ I say no,” he said brutally. “ No, No, No! ” 

Then to himself : 

“ What am I wasting my time talking to this fool 
for ? ” With that he touched a bell twice. 

Two uniformed men appeared. 

“ Take that woman away, and if she makes any 
fuss, send her to the correction yard for six months.” 

He then entered an inner office and slammed the 
door. 

One of the men took hold of the woman’s arm. 

“Will you leave here instantly,” he said, “or will 
we arrest you ? ” 


62 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


‘'No, no,” she cried in terror. “I will go, I will 
go,” and she tottered away from the office. 

It was true as the colonel had said. Lizzie looked, 
dressed and lived like a lady. He gave her a most 
siimptuous establislinient. 

He did this as a matter of j)ride and for the sake 
of holding his own among a number of similar estab- 
lishments in the city. 

The morality of this transaction was not thought 
of by the colonel or broached by Mrs. Newcomb, for 
it would have been useless or worse than useless. 

In Pactolus it was the custom, as in many despotic 
countries, for those in power to seize any comely girl 
to whom they might take a fancy. In Pactolus it 
was a little more bold and direct than elsewhere. 

“ Lizzie,” said Colonel Reed that evening, “ how 
would you like to go to the opera ? ” 

“ Oh, dearly,” said she with enthusiasm. 

“Well, then, put on your prettiest dress and we 
will go.” 

In a short time Lizzie presented herself. She was 
bewitchingly lovely. 

She stood in the doorway. 

“Ahem! ” she said. 

Reed looked up and his face lighted instantly. 

He arose and held out his arms. Lizzie tossed her 
head and hid behind the portiere. 

She peeped out. 

“ Come,” he said, still holding out Ids arms. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


63 


Slie freed lierself from the folds of the portiere, 
and danced to one side and then to the other, then 
up to him and away. Then suddenly she rushed 
right into his arms. 

Colonel Reed was proud of his friend as he termed 
Lizzie and he frequently exhibited her in public 
places. 

Lizzie was a most satisfactory person to take out, 
as she was always enthusiastically hapj)y over every- 
thing she saw. It might be the simplest matter or 
the most elaborate entertainment, she expressed de- 
light and enjoyment in it, not only in words, but in 
manner. 

She was absolutely without affectation, and never 
exhibited any signs of ennui, nor was she blase. 

Hers was one of those sunshiny natures which 
enjoy everything and reflect sunshine. 

Her comments on passing matters were always 
quaint, amusing and original. 

Colonel Reed found her as amusing as the enter- 
tainment. 

After the opera they went to the Razzaro, an ex- 
clusive resort for wealthy people. 

As they entered Lizzie was criticised by the ladies 
and habitues of the place. 

“ Who is that with Colonel Reed ? ” asked Kate 
Waldron. 

‘‘It must be his new girl,” said Caiitain Wythe. 
“ I hear he is very jiroud of her.” 


64 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Proud of lier ? ” said Fannie Mills, witli a sneer. 
‘‘1 cannot see anything to be proud of in such a 
creature as she is.’’ 

Don’t you think she is pretty ? ” asked Dick 
Marsh, with a malicious grin. 

“ Yes — as stupidity is pretty,” said Miss Waldron. 

At another table attention was called to Lizzie by 
Tom Morgan. 

Is that Colonel Reed’s taste ? ” said Belle Lewis, 
with a sneer. He had better have his eyes attended 
to.” 

“ Shocking taste in dress,” said Sadie French. 

“ Isn’t she rather — that is pretty ? ” suggested 
Caiieton Watson. 

‘‘She would be pretty if she was not so sharp 
looking,” replied Miss Lewis. 

Another group at another table condemned with 
a sweeping condemnation. They condemned her 
form, her features, and her clothing. 

These criticisms were made on the girl, not as an 
individual, but as an acquisition of Colonel Reed’s. 

These people commented on her as if she were a 
picture or a horse. 

General Sinclair sauntered in after a few minutes. 
He bowed to and chatted with several groups in a 
social way for a few minutes. Seeing Colonel Reed 
he came forward smiling and shook hands. 

“ General,” said the colonel, “ this is Miss Lizzie.” 

The general bowed and smiled jqiprovingly at the 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


65 


colonel, and looked at Lizzie with critical admira- 
tion. 

“ ^^"ere yon at the oi)era ? ” asked the general. 

‘‘ Yes, sir, and I enjoyed it very much, and espe- 
cially the singing of Mademoiselle Lucia,” said Lizzie. 

‘‘ How did you like the gondolier’s song ? ” 

Lizzie clasped her hand in an ecstasy of delight, 
as she cried : “Oh, wasn’t it charming ? Wasn’t it, 
general ? ” 

The general nodded in a i)leased way at her en- 
thusiasm. 

“ I knew you would like it. I knew you would ; 
everybody would.” 

Then pointing at the colonel : “ Colonel said it was 
weak.” 

“ It was weak,” the colonel put in, “ and every man 
will say so.” 

“Ladies are better judges of strength than men,” 
said the general, Avith a smile. 

“Good!” cried Lizzie. “Now, he will have to 
admit it. AVill you, sir ? ” 

“ Oh, anything for quiet,” said the colonel, laugh- 
ing. “ Won’t you join us, general ? ” 

“ I shall be pleased to if you will excuse me for a 
minute.” AVith that he bowed and sauntered to 
another group. 

The colonel was annoyed at the outcome of the 
dialogue; while, on the other hand, Lizzie was as 
hai^py as a bird, and as she gazed around the beau- 
5 


66 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


tifiil room, at its gorgeous decorations and its beau- 
tifully dressed occupants (for she contemplated both 
in the same spirit; she looked at the wdmen not as 
human beings having human sympathies and affec- 
tions, but simply as animated objects decorated to 
j)lease the eye), and as she gazed and sipped her ice, 
she hummed the gondolier’s song in a low, cooing 
voice. 

A child came to the table with a basket of flowers. 

“Would the lady like some flowers, sir?” the 
child said. 

“No,” said the colonel, in such a gruff tone that 
both Lizzie and the child started. Just as the child 
had turned away the general came up. 

“ Why,” he cried, “ here are some flowers; we must 
have some for Miss Lizzie.” 

He picked out the handsomest bouquet and handed 
it to her with a smile. 

“ Oh, thank you ever so much. Oh dear, aren’t 
they sweet!” she gasped after burying her face in 
the bouquet for several seconds. 

“ Do you like them ? ” said the general, laugh- 
ing. 

“Oh! How can you ask such a question ? They 
are perfectly delightful.” 

Then her face fairly beamed as she looked at the 
general for a second. 

“ Now, do you know what I am going to do ? ” 

The general shook his head, smiling. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


67 


Can't you guess ? ” slie said. He again shook 
liis head. 

Then, here goes,’’ she said. 

She took a half-blown bud out of the bouquet and 
going up to the general pinned it to the lapel of his 
coat. 

The general was surprised and blushed as he 
noted the nodding, nudging, whispering and smiling 
going on at the other tables. He was pleased as 
well, however. 

The colonel turned white with Jealous rage, but he 
managed to control himself sufficiently to reply with 
a strained smile when the general asked him if it 
wasn’t pretty. 

The bud was a pretty one — as pretty as one could 
expect to see. Its value was trifling and it seems 
strange that it should turn the friendshij) of a life- 
time into the bitterest enmity, and yet such was the 
case. 

When Lizzie and the colonel returned to the cot- 
tage, she was in the highest good humor, and he was 
in that morose condition when the appearance of 
happiness in another is irritating. 

The parlor of the cottage was large and occupied 
the full depth of one side of the house. 

The furniture was sumptuous and at the end 
nearest the back veranda there was a beautiful silk 
lounge. 


68 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


The colonel was morose and taciturn, while Lizzie 
was bubbling over with good nature and si)irits. 

The colonel threw himself into a large arm-chair. 
Lizzie, dropping her wrap on a chair, went around 
the room humming a tune. After a time she began 
moving about the room in a half -dancing, half -gliding 
manner, keeping time to the music she was hum- 
ming. 

She took no notice of the colonel, although he, 
from time to time, glanced angrily at her. 

She was a bewitching sight in her low-necked 
dress as she moved from place to place ; sometimes 
she lifted her dress a little, displaying a prettily- 
rounded ankle, and again she would raise her arms 
and wave them direct from the shoulders as if bal- 
ancing herself as she slowly whirled around from 
one end of the room to the other 

She looked the embodiment of careless abandon 
and happiness. 

Thrice had this graceful creature gone the length 
of the room, and each time the face of the colonel 
had grown blacker. As she passed him the third 
time he could control himself no longer. His hand 
closed on the handle of his scorpion -whip. He 
sprang to his feet and noiselessly creeping up be- 
hind Lizzie, brought the lash down on her bare 
shoulder. 

There was a second of dead silence, then the girl 
uttered a sound that was neither a shriek nor a 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


69 


moan nor a cry, but partook of the nature of each. 
It was thrilling in its intensity. 

The girl was hurt and siiiprised. She was shocked 
and insulted. She had never before been struck. 
She had always been used to kindness, and even a 
harsh word jarred on her sensitive nature. 

Whether the colonel intended to repeat the blow 
will never be known ; he had no time. 

On the instant of uttering the cry, she turned; 
then, like a flash she hurled herself against the col- 
onel with the whole weight of her body and he went 
down like a log. His head struck the corner of a 
settee and he lay there insensible. 

Then she sprang at him like a tigress ; she fell on 
her knees and caught him by the throat. He was 
helpless in her hands and she could have killed him. 
She took hold of his throat, her eyes fairly blazing. 
The head made no resistance. She clutched the al- 
most lifeless throat for a moment. Then, with a look 
of contempt, she pulled her hands off his throat, 
rubbed them together as if to brush off the contact, 
and rose to her feet. Her eyes fell on the scorpion. 
She snatched it up, raised it to strike him. Her 
hand wavered for a moment, then fell to her side. 

“ What is the good? ” she said with a sob. 

She threw the scorjiion on his body. Then she 
put her hands to her head, staggered to the lounge, 
threw herself full length uj^on it, and while the blood 
trickled from the wound on her shoulder she burst 


70 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


out crying. She cried, she sobbed, she moaned, as 
only a woman can cry who has been cruelly wounded 
in her pride by one whom she regards as her pro- 
tector. 

It was a bitter, bitter disappointment, and her 
faith in the colonel as a friend was utterly dead. 

The child, for child she was, was in that condition 
which is called heart-broken. It was not so much 
the blow and the pain, although they were severe 
enough, but the indignity offered to her by one 
whom she trusted and almost loved. It overwhelmed 
her and she felt that nothing could ever atone for 
it. All that he had given her and all that he could 
ever do for her could not eradicate the feeling of 
horror and loathing she felt for him after that blow. 

There she lay prone on the lounge quivering with 
her convulsive sobs. 

The colonel recovered in a few minutes from his 
fall. His first impulse was to chastise the girl; he 
seized his scorpion and strode to the lounge ; but as 
his eye fell on the beautiful prostrate form quiver- 
ing with emotion, and as he saw the wound and the 
blood, all of his old love or affection or whatever may 
have been the feeling with which he had regarded 
her, stayed his hand. He was subdued; his savage 
nature stood at bay before the helpless girl. He 
was afraid to strike. He was cowed. He felt that 
he had gone too far and that he must make amends. 

At that moment he would have done anything she 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


71 


might have commanded; would have gone to any 
lengths to propitiate her. 

He had been using the scorpion for years, and had 
seen it used in the most cruel manner upon both 
sexes. 

He had seen delicate women cut in the most cruel 
manner and had not given the matter a second 
thought, but here he stood horrilied at one blow 
where he believed it was richly deserved. 

He flung the scorpion away. 

“Are you hurt, darling ? ” he said. 

Lizzie made no answer. 

“ Lizzie, Lizzie,” he said, in soft tones, “ did I hurt 
you ? ” 

Still no answer from the sobbing girl. 

“ I didn’t mean to strike you so hard,” in a whis- 
per. 

No answer. 

“ Come, sit up and say you forgive me.” 

Lizzie did not seem to hear him. 

“ I am very sorry I did it. I am a brute.” 

He might as well have been talking to the lounge, 
for there was no response. 

“ Won’t you overlook it ? I promise it will never 
occur again.” 

Still the monotonous sobbing. 

“Come, get up, girl, you mustn’t lie there all 
night.” 

He touched her arm as if to take hold of it. In 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


an instant she was on her feet confronting him with 
glaring eyes and upraised arms. 

Hands otf ! ” she cried with voice and manner so 
menacing that he shrank back cowed. 

Then she again threw herself on the lounge. 

1^0 sound escaped her now save hard breathing 
and an occasional moan. 

He watched her for some minutes, then he came a 
step or two nearer. 

Darling, won’t you forgive me ? ” 

He stretched his hands towards her. She seemed 
to feel his proximity for she shuddered and raising 
her head and facing him she said in a low tone, but 
with so much fierce threatening in it that he stepped 
back quickly. 

Don’t touch me again, or ” 

She turned her head away and he sat down in a 
large chair. His strength seemed all gone ; he could 
hardly move. All he could do was to stare at the 
recumbent figure on the lounge. 

All night long she lay there; all night long he sat 
there helpless with almost the power of a king at 
his command and yet he sat there unable to make a 
weak little girl do his bidding. 

Towards morning, from some cause, shock or ex- 
haustion or weariness, he fell into an uneasy sleep. 

As day broke he awoke with a start. He looked 
at the lounge. There was nothing there but some 
blood stains. 


THE REIGN OE SELFISHNESS. 73 

He started — he looked about the room. Lizzie 
was not there. He ran to her room. She was not 
there. He called the servants and they hunted all 
through the house, but she could not be found — she 
was gone. 

The next time he saw her she was under the pro- 
tection of General Sinclair. Those men became bit- 
ter enemies from that moment. 

This girl, by creating this enmity, restored Leon 
Pelon to at least a portion of his rights. 


74 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER X. 

THE breadwinners’ MEETING. 

The Laborers’ League which the doctor and Ran- 
dolph joined was an organization formed for the 
purpose of trying to protect or better the condition 
of the people at large. By what means no one could 
answer, but sheer desperation forced the people to 
band together for some i)nrpose — j)erhaps they took 
comfort in talking over their wrongs — perhaps they 
hoped to evolve something. 

However this may be, the doctor and Randolph 
attended one of their meetings a short time after 
Mr. Holt had been sent to prison. 

The meetings of the League were held in an old 
warehouse. 

As the doctor and Randolph entered the large 
hall where the League meetings were held, they were 
struck with the perfect order which reigned. Not 
a sound was heard save the voice of a member who 
was addressing the chair. There was neither listless- 
ness, inattention nor talking. 

Here and there members would whisper to one 
another for a moment in an earnest manner, but at 
the same time they paid the strictest attention to 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


75 


wliat was being said. Several members spoke and 
their remarks were brief and to the point. They 
were very temperate in their language and courte- 
ous to one another. 

The hall was a large square room without any at- 
tempt at ornamentation. There was a large platform 
at one end upon which the chairman sat surrounded 
by several of the officers of the League. Against the 
walls there was a line of settees ; there were no other 
seats in the hall. At the end of the hall farthest 
from the platform there was a large gallery. 

About one thousand men were in the room, most 
of whom were standing. The doctor and Mr. Holt 
took their positions in the gallery. 

The routine business was gone through with very 
rapidly. 

A committee which had been appointed to report 
as to the advisability of petitioning the directory of 
tlie company to do something towards mitigating 
the sufferings of the laborers, made their report and 
recommended that a committee of fifteen be ap- 
pointed who should petition the directory to allow 
them to present a statement showing the needs of 
the x)eople. 

The report was adoiDted and a committee appointed. 
Then there was a break in the proceedings; the 
chairman conferred with the other officers and every- 
one began talking on the instant; there was a buzz 
and hum of voices which at times almost amounted 


76 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

to a roar. The visitors heard men all around them 
speaking of the Spy ” committee Avith great earnest- 
ness. 

The doctor addressed a man who stood near him 
asking him what the ‘‘ Spy ” committee was. 

The man stared at him. 

Don’t you know ? ” he said. 

This is my first evening here/’ the doctor replied, 
beg pardon,” said the man, “but the ‘Spy’ 
committee is very well known to the members of the 
League. It reports those members who have betrayed 
secrets of the League to the company.” 

“ How is it formed ? ” asked the doctor. 

“ It is made up of ten of the most careful men in 
the League; they hear charges against members who 
are suspected, they investigate them with the utmost 
care and report at each meeting the names of those 
they deem guilty.” 

“ What then ? ” the doctor asked. 

“ Such members, while under the charge, are cut 
off from the rest of the community ; in fact no one 
will associate with them ; members of the League are 
afraid to be seen with them.” 

“ Does the suspected member have a trial ? ” said 
the doctor. 

“ Yes, he is given an opportunity to explain or to 
prove his innocence, but it is only once in a great 
while that a man against wdioin a charge is made is 
acquitted.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


77 


‘‘Doesn’t that work injustice, sometimes ?” asked 
the doctor. 

“I suppose it does, sometimes; but the committee 
are very careful and never present a man’s name if 
there is a particle of doubt as to his guilt.” 

“Anyhow,” said the man continuing, “ there is not 
much justice in this world, so I suppose it don’t 
make much diiference, one way or the other.”. 

The man said this with such an air of weariness 
that the doctor forbore to question him further. 
Randolph was interested, and asked what the pen- 
alty was. 

“ I don’t know,” said the man. 

“ Don’t know ? ” echoed Holt. 

“No, nobody but the board of officers know.” 

“ Is he arrested ? ” the doctor asked. 

“No,” replied the man; “three men are assigned 
to keep him in view; he goes around as usual for a 
while and attends to his work and lives with his 
family, but nobody associates with him and after a 
while he disappears.” 

“ Do you know what becomes of him ? ” 

“I do not; I never knew of a man who had 
been accused in open meeting being seen after one 
month.” 

“ But,” said Randolph, “ can’t a man’s friends pro- 
tect or hide him some way ? ” 

“ What! from the League ? ” 

The man accompanied this question with a look 


78 


THE REI(4N OF SELFISHNESS. 


wliicli conveyed to tlie visitors’ minds the utter 
hopelessness of such an attempt. 

But, won’t the company protect him ? ” said the 
doctor. 

The company ? ” said the man contemptuously, 

What do they care? They get what they want out 
of the man and then he may shift for himself. 
Sometimes they don’t even give him what they prom- 
ise. It is every man for himself.” 

Some one called the man away and the doctor ad- 
dressed another member. 

“ What are the duties of the men who are directed 
to keep in view the man who is accused ? ” he said. 

Simjdy to be able to tell where he can be found 
if wanted,” the man replied. 

“ Can they readily keep trace of him ? ” asked 
Randolph. 

‘‘ Where can he hide ? ” said the man as he looked 
inquiringly at Randolph. 

Randolph shook his head by way of reply and the 
man walked away. 

The doctor stood still and wondered whether it 
was better to be a susf)ect ” or a “ vigilante.” In 
any event,” he said to himself, “ the ‘ suspect’ has a 
prospect of release from hopeless toil, hunger and 
suffering; after all, what does it all amount to ? ” he 
said. Is not death man’s best estate ? ” 

In the mean time the voice of one thousand men 
talking, though generally in a low tone, in volume 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


79 


amounted to a continnous roar. Suddenly tliere 
came a sharp tattoo of the chairman’s gavel, and in a 
moment the roar was smothered and the only sound 
heard Avas the shuffling of feet as the men in the 
assembly changed positions so as to face the chair. 
Even this sound ceased almost instantly and the hall 
became absolutely quiet. 

Then the chairman spoke in an ordinary tone 
of voice, but it was heard in every part of the 
room. 

‘‘ The meeting will now come to order.” 

He paused for a moment, and then said: 

‘‘We will now hear the report of the ‘ Spy ’ com- 
mittee.” 

Another pause. 

“ Have the ‘ Spy ’ committee any report ? ” Pause 
— “ If not we will proceed ” 

“ Mr. Chairman,” the voice came from the corner 
of the room nearest the platform, and only those in 
the immediate vicinity could see the speaker. 

“ Mr. Chairman,” the voice repeated when the noise 
of an involuntary movement of the assembly had 
subsided, “the ‘Spy’ committee have a report to 
make.” 

The voice was now husky and the speaker cleared 
his throat. 

“The committee report the name of Marshal Wil- 
ford.” 

This was folloAA^ed by a few seconds of absolute 


80 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


silence, then there was a movement in every part of 
the room. Suddenly a voice shrieked out, 

No, no, don’t say it; don’t, it’s a mistake, don’t! ” 

The voice came from the centre of the room a lit- 
tle to the left. 

The doctor and Randolph looked down and saw a 
man waving his arms and shrieking while the crowd 
slowly moved and pressed away from him, leaving 
him alone in the centre of a circle. His eyes were 
glaring, his arms were outstretched, appealing first to 
one side, then to the other, and again in front of him. 

“Don’t, don’t believe it,” he cried, “it must be 

some one else ” but the crowd pressed away from 

him, until he stood alone in a circle about ten feet 
square. 

Then came a sharp tattoo of the chairman’s gavel ; 
there was instant silence; again the inexorable voice 
spoke in a measured monotonous and cold tone. 

“ What is the pleasure of the council ? ” 

“I move that the report be accepted;” the voice 
came from the centre of the hall. 

“ Do I hear a second,” said the chairman in the 
same profunctory tone. Several voices called out : 

“ Second the motion.” 

“ Does any member, other than the accused, desire 
to say anything upon the question ? ” the chairman 
said this as a mere matter of form, for it was idle to 
talk upon the report of the “ Spy ” committee, as 
the matter was subsequently passed upon. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


81 


If not,” he added after a second pause, we all 
put the question.” 

Then came from various parts, of the room the cry 
of ‘^question,” ^‘question,” “question.” 

“ The council has heard the motion, all in favor of 
receiving the report will say ‘ay.’ ” 

There was a chorus of “ ayes ” that filled the room. 

“ Contrary, ‘ no,’ ” said the chairman. 

“ No,” came from a dozen voices. 

“No,” cried the accused, who still stood alone in 
the centre of the circle; he was pale and trembling 
and had a desiderate, haggard look ; as he heard the 
“ no ” his courage seemed to revive for he cried out 
wildly, 

“ I call for the ‘ ayes ’ and ‘ nays.’ ” 

The chairman brought down the gavel as he said 

“ The ‘ ayes ’ and ‘ nays ’ have been called for by 
one member, it is necessary that ten members should 
demand them; do I hear nine more members de- 
mand the ' ayes ’ and ‘ nays,’ ” the chairman paused for 
a few seconds; there was a dead silence; then in de- 
spair the accused cried to his friends one after the 
other, 

“ Harry ! call ! call ! Don’t let the report go, don’t, 
don’t! ” 

Then turning from side to side he called wildly: — 

“Harry, John, Frank! Where are you? Call! 
call!” 

But there was no reply. Down came the chair- 
6 


92 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


man’s gavel, and the accused ceased talking as though 
transfixed. The chairman looked directly at the 
accused and said sternly : 

“Any member disturbing the order of the meeting 
will be removed. Do nine more members call for the 
^ ayes ’ and ‘ nays ? ’ If not, I declare the motion car- 
I’ied; ” and he paused again and glancing around the 
room added: 

“ The ‘ Spy ’ committee’s report is accepted,” and 
after another pause he said : 

“Marshal Wilford is relieved from further re- 
sponsibility as a member of the League; he will re- 
tire.” 

The accused turned and staggered towards the 
door, and as he progressed a wide lane was made for 
him. Three men followed him. The meeting then 
adjourned. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


83 


CHAPTER XL 

HOW TO GET RID OF THE OLD PEOPLE. 

The dinners of the directory were wonders of the 
culinary art. 

It will not seem strange nor a misuse of the word 
to speak of cooking as an art when we take into 
consideration the fact that many of the ablest minds 
in the country were enlisted in that industry. 

Men of culture and refinement finding themselves 
doomed to labor at the most menial toil, and toil 
which gave but scant return for the effort put forth, 
were only too glad to become attached to the house- 
hold of a director, even though they became servants. 

A servant’s place in the house of a director was a 
position eagerly sought by the best men in the com- 
munity. Servants had good clothes, shelter, and 
the best eating in the world. 

The ingenuity displayed by these superior cooks 
was very pleasing and they produced dishes which 
were delightful novelties. 

Director Conrad Rogers had in his household 
three cooks, one of whom had in past times been a 
banker, another had been a successful physician, 
and a third who had occupied a prominent position 
as a clerk in a commercial house. 


84 


THE REIGN OE SELFISHNESS. 


These cooks were each gifted with a talent for a 
special branch of cooking and Mr. Rogers was proud 
of their achievements. 

There were matters to be discussed in relation to 
the affairs of the company, and Mr. Rogers invited 
fifteen prominent directors to dine with him — Gen- 
eral Sinclair, George Saunders, Walter J. Watson, 
Thomas R. Andrew and Clement Howard. Then 
among the number there were about ten bright 
ladies in the company who partook of the food and 
entered into the discussion with as much zest as the 
men. 

There was a winsome odor of fiowers in the dining 
room which was so decorated as to represent a glade 
in the woods. The floor was covered with a carpet 
which was almost the exact counterpart of grass. 
There were trees and shrubs and flowers and rocks 
with a small cataract half concealed in one corner of 
the room. 

The room was a loerfect pastoral scene in lovely 
spring attire. 

Outside a fierce winter storm was beating against 
the walls and windows of the house. 

The dainty food and the pleasing surroundings 
had a softening effect on these men and women, and 
they discussed their business with a politeness and 
a forbearance as well as a consideration for one an- 
other’s opinions which spoke well for the civilizing 
effect of well-cooked food and mellow wine. 


THE REIGN Of SELFISHNESS. 


85 


These diners Avere trained eaters. They neither 
ate too much nor drank too much, and they seldom 
ate what did not agree with them. 

They heeded the advice of their cooks. They prac- 
tically placed their stomachs in their charge and 
held them responsible for those organs. 

The affairs of the company were talked over in a 
bland manner until Major Andrews said : 

The machinery in carpet mill No. 7867 has broken 
down a number of times of late.” 

This was said while the company were smoking 
their cigars and sipping their wine. 

“ What is the cause of that ? ” asked Mr. Howard. 

‘‘Any mismanagement ?” asked Watson. 

“ Not that I can observe,” replied Andrews. “ The 
overseer seems to think that portions of it are worn 
out.” 

“Nonsense,” said several of the gentlemen in 
chorus. 

“ But I am inclined to think he is right.” 

“You must remember that these fellows are al- 
ways anxious to put the company to expense. They 
never have the company’s interests at heart ; ” said 
Sinclair. 

“ That is so,” called out several. 

“ Nor would I, if I were in their place,” said Mr. 
Comfort, dryly. 

This was followed by a laugh. 

“ I know that,” replied Andrews ; “ but in this 


86 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


case I made a personal inspection and I found the 
disabled parts unfit for use.” 

“ Do you mean to say it will be necessary to re- 
place all the machinery ? ” said Sinclair. 

‘‘ AVell, I suppose it may be patched up here and 
there in such a way as to carry it along for some 
years,” Andrews replied. ‘‘But I think the com- 
pany will lose more by pottering over the old mate- 
rial in the end than by replacing the machinery 
entirely.” 

“ I for one am opposed to these heavy expendi- 
tures,” said Sinclair; “and if the old machinery can 
be worked at all, I shall vote for repair rather than 
rei)lacing it.” 

This speech was followed by a round of applause 
in which the ladies joined, and so the question was 
settled. 

The ladies of the directory had after a long fight 
succeeded in having abrogated the rule which ban- 
ished them from the banquet when the cigars and 
wine were brought on. Though there were some of 
the ladies who continued to adhere to the old cus- 
tom, the majority “ stood by the table,” as the saying 
went, until all retired. 

“ Isn’t this nectar,” said Major Carleton to Miss 
Manton Halton, as between puffs of a fragrant cigar 
he sipped a sparkling wine made especially for. the 
directory. 

“Divine,” replied Miss Halton, and as she was 


THE EEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


87 


about to further express herself, the major in a tone 
intended for the general assemblage said : 

‘‘ By the way, there is a problem growing which 
we will soon have to solve, and, I think, we may as 
well act on it now as any time.” 

He paused, took a sip of his wine, and as he rolled 
it around in his mouth, he nodded his head at Miss 
Halton in commendation of the wine. He took a 
long pulf of his cigar. Then he continued his re- 
marks. 

That problem is the old people. I mean those 
who have grown old and stilf and can’t do as much 
work as the company ought to get for its money. 
Well,” he said, after taking another sip of wine, 
which cost twenty dollars a bottle, and a puff of a 
cigar which cost half a dollar, “ I think we should 
get rid of these old people who are clogging the 
channels of trade.” 

‘‘ How ? ” asked Howard. 

Well,” rej)lied the major, again sipping his wine, 
“ there are several ways of getting rid of a nuisance, 
and the most effective way is to remove it.” 

He paused for a moment while he sipped his wine 
and took a puff of his cigar. 

‘‘ By the way, general,” he said smacking his lips 
in a critical manner, ‘‘I think this is even a finer 
Madeira than the last consignment.” 

'‘Come to think of it.” said Sinclair as he gently 
waved his wine glass in front of his nose, “ the bou- 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

qiiet is slightly different, and I don’t know but that 
it is better.” 

Then there was a general discussion on the rela- 
tive merits of the wine, in which the ladies took 
part. 

After some little time had been consumed in chat- 
ter over the excellence of the wine, the major broke 
in: 

‘‘But this is not business. I was talking about 
the old people — not an agreeable subject,” he said, 
nodding apologetically to the ladies, “ but we have 
got to meet the question some time, and the present 
is as good as any. Now, I am not what you call a 
bloodthirsty man, nor am I cruel; but I think in 
the interest of the company we must get rid of 
them.” 

“ Do you mean get rid of them for good ? ” asked 
Saunders. 

“Yes, cut them off entirely so that the company 
will no longer be burdened with them.” 

“ First rate.” 

“ Good,” cried several of the party. 

“ That would be splendid,” exclaimed Miss Win- 
ston, and all around the table there ran a volley of 
exclamation and expressions of satisfaction. 

“ What is the plan ? ” cried Mr. Howard. 

“ Why,” said the major as he sipped his wine as 
though satisfied with himself and all the world, 
“ why, the plan is most simple, direct and practical.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


89 


He paused, then added, “We will have to just kill 
them.” 

The comiiany were dazed for a moment at the sug- 
gestion, then they burst out with protests. 

“No, no!” 

“Horrible!” 

“ Inhuman! ” 

“ Cruel ! ” 

“Brutal!” 

“No! No!” 

“ Not to be thought of! ” 

“Terrible!” 

“'Awful! ” 

This burst of energetic protest, coming as it did 
from the most languid group of voluptuaries in the 
world, surprised and then amused the major, and he 
l)ut his hand in front of his face to hide a cynical 
smile. 

“We could not think of such a thing,” said 
Watson. 

“ It would be barbarous,” said several of the ladies. 

“ Most inhuman,” said Mr. Saunders. 

“ Perfectly hoiTible,” said Miss Layard. And so 
one after another the guests expressed themselves in 
unqualified condemnation of the major’s suggestion. 

The major was not disconcerted and he looked 
most benevolent, but with a suggestion of a sneer, 
as he said : 

“ I have another plan which I think will be more 


90 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


to your liking. These old people cannot live on 
what they earn from their labor. They are dying of 
slow starvation. The food they can purchase with 
their earnings is not sufficiently nutritious to sus- 
tain life and daily many of them sink down exhausted 
^ at their labor. 

“After a human being is i)ast the age of fifty, 
the system demands more nutritious food and it 
also demands a stimulant. These are denied them 
by their surroundings. These poor wretches drag 
out a miserable, half-famished existence. I don’t 
say their stomachs are not filled, for they are, 
but with food which is not appropriate or suffi- 
ciently strength-making for people of their age, 
and they literally die of starvation. I would sug- 
gest that we make an ai)propriation by means of 
which laborers over fifty years of age can have what 
is needful in the way of nourishment.” 

There was an uneasy movement and a murmur of 
disapproval among the guests. 

The major did not appear to notice the sentiment 
of his fellows, but as he went on, his smile was a lit- 
tle more sarcastic. 

“ Such an act of beneficence would not be much 
of a tax on our generosity. One cent taken from 
each thousand dollars of your incomes would do 
everything for these old people which it is possible 
from a physical standpoint. What do you think of 
it, ladies and gentlemen ? ” 


THE REIGN. OF SELFISHNESS. 


91 


Again the uneasy movement among the guests 
and an almost audible murmur of disapproval. 

The major, with a delicate suggestion of a sneer, 
added : 

“ I am willing to do my share. Yes, I will do 
twice as much as any one of you. Now, what will 
you do for those who by reason of their age and gray 
hair we are told to reverence ? ’• 

‘‘ I think such things are best left to the overseers,” 
said Mr. Howard hastily. 

‘‘ That’s so.” 

Yes.” 

“ Right.” 

Very proper.” 

These responses came quickly and with great 
energy, but the major was not disconcerted, and he 
went on as if he had not been interrupted. 

I suppose it is only jiroper to say in our own 
justification that neglect for and cruel treatment of 
the old is not peculiar to our set. In fact, for 
a great number of years it has been quite com- 
mon. 

‘‘Among the fierce money -getters, from a commer- 
cial standpoint, the old man is of no more account 
than an old horse. Money-getters don’t want old 
men in their employ. One of the most pathetic 
sights to a sentimental person is that of an old man 
seeking work. He meets rebuff after rebuff. ‘ Too 
old.’ ‘ Too old,’ is the cry. ‘ Too old,’ in the com- 


92 


THE EEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


mercial world is very like that which is heard in the 
Orient from the leper, — ‘ Unclean! ’ ‘ unclean! ’ 

There is one way of looking at this matter,” 
added the major after a pause, “ which should af- 
ford us considerable satisfaction, and that is that 
among savages respect and kindly consideration 
for old age are the rule, and as we advance in 
civilization we think less and less of our seniors, 
while in our refined society the sentiment which 
promotes respect and consideration for old peojile 
seems to have disappeared. The more refined the 
society the less respect is shown old age. Since we 
administer death to these old people by cruelly 
ignoring their rights by insults and rebuff, by heart- 
breaking negligence, by starvation and cruelty, 
would it not be kind in us to save them all this 
humiliation and suffering ? W ould it not be a mercy 
to, in some kindly way, relieve them of their load of 
sorrow and misery, take them from their living 
death and at the same time relieve ourselves of an 
expense ? 

It is a dreary thing to find old age, heljdess old 
age, creeping upon you with death from starvation 
at the end. The most dreaded of all ills to the poor 
is old age. Old age like a sleuth hound is following 
us one and all and our only escape is death. Old 
age or death is the choice. 

‘‘Now, how much better is the relief of the latter 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


93 


tliau the lingering, cruel suffering without* hox)e of 
the former ? 

Ladies and gentlemen, the question I would like 
to have you answer this evening is this : 

Is it your pleasure to kill your worn-out servants 
by starvation or with a club ? 

“ If there is any sentiment which enters into this 
business, starvation is the vehicle. It is very slow 
but sure. If it is a matter of business, then, on the 
score of economy, the club is the best relief.” 

The major jDaused for a moment as if waiting for 
a rejAj. 

As is the way of polite society when anything 
shocking or annoying or indecent or impolite is said 
or done, the company sinijily ignored tlie major and 
his propositions, and as he finished speaking each 
lady and gentleman began talking to one another in 
the most natural way on tox)ics entirely foreign to 
that the major had so impolitely thrust ui^on them. 

The major looked disconcerted for a moment (liis 
was a delicate, sensitive nature) and then after taking 
a swallow of wine, turned to a neighbor and said : 

They don’t seem to like the truth.” 


94 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XIL 

THE DIRECTORS DID NOT KEEP THEIR APPOINTMENT. 

The chairman of the Laborers’ League had shown 
a wise discrimination in the selection of the com- 
mittee wlio were to appeal to the directory for re- 
lief. 

This committee was composed of fifteen of the 
best men in the league ; they were men who were 
endowed with line mental qualities and many of them 
had taken degrees in universities or colleges. Three 
of them had been lawyers, and one chief justice of 
the Supreme Court ; several of them had been bank- 
ers and merchants, and two of them had been phy- 
sicians, now they were common laborers. 

They drafted a petition to the directory asking 
in the humblest manner to be permitted to make a 
statement of their grievances to the board. They 
sent the petition to President Stilpool. After one 
week they received a reply to the effect that they 
would be heard before a committee of the board on 
the Saturday evening following, at nine o’clock, at 
the board room in the Casino. 

The board room in the Casino was a grand salon 
where the directors met from time to time to trans- 
act business. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


95 


Saturday, the 26tli day of January, was a bitterly 
cold day. The ground was frozen hard ; there was 
a fine crust on the snow, just the weather that one 
coidd enjoy sleighing. 

As night drew on the cold became more intense. 
The moon rose in her splendor ; i)eople muffled in 
furs would regard the evening as grand. There was 
not a breath of air stirring, but the cold was pitiless 
in its intensity. It seemed to penetrate everything. 

At the corner of two of the great thoroughfares of 
Pactolus there was a building which was magnifi- 
cent in its massive beauty. Its main entrance was 
spanned by one grand arch which took in the whole 
front. The beauty of this entrance was somewhat 
marred by an ornamental railing running almost 
flush with the front of the building: This railing 
was pretty in itself, but dwarfed the beauty of the 
building and the entrance. Still it was there and 
served its purjiose, that of keex)ing intruders out of 
the beautiful archway. 

This building was the Casino, in the great hall of 
which the committee of the board of the directory 
was to receive the committee of the League. 

Long before nine o’clcok on this Saturday night, a 
group of men were standing in front of this beauti- 
ful archway. The moon shone full on the front of 
the building and brought the group and even the 
features of the men out in strong relief. 

They were not prej^ossessing in appearance, clad 


96 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


as they were in their unbecoming garments, many of 
which were well worn and labor-stained and ragged, 
and yet their long coats gave them a sort of pic- 
turesque appearance. 

Not the least singular thing about this weird spec- 
tacle is the fact that this cadaverous, cold and hun- 
gry group were the possessors of more than eight 
million dollars, all tightly invested in the Great 
United Supply Company’s stock and bonds. 

AVhy were they here hungry and chilled to the 
bone ? Why did they work from twelve to eighteen 
hours a day at the most exhausting kind of labor ? 

Simply because the stock of the company paid no 
dividends, and the bonds paid no interest. 

These men were wide-awake business men and 
when the bottom began to fall out of other securities 
they invested in the stock and the bonds of the 
company. 

These men had only one thing to reproach them- 
selves for, and that was that they did not get them- 
selves by hook or by crook into the board of direc- 
tory. 

The dividends were passed and interest stopped, 
and inside of one year hundreds of thousands of 
people who were independently rich found them- 
selves glad to get the poorest kind of food, clothing 
and shelter by the most laborious kind of work. 

Of course, attempts were made to compel the 
directory to account for the money they received. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 




and they did account ; they proved to the satisfac- 
tion of the courts : 

1st. That the income of the company was enor- 
mous. 

2d. That the expenses of the company equalled 
the income almost to a dollar. 

3d. That there Avas nothing to pay dividends or 
interest with. 

This committee aa^s a fair representation of thou- 
sands of their countrymen ; they were hungry and 
• cold-looking, and as they stamped their feet and beat 
their hands to keep their blood in circulation, they 
presented a strange and comical spectacle. They 
conversed in low tones through their cliattering 
teeth, and every feAv minutes they glanced at an 
illuminated clock on the other side of the square to 
see how the time mov'ed. Then they would look at 
the AvindoAvs of the Casino building to see if it was 
being lighted. The minutes passed very sloAvly. 

Said one to his neighbor : 

“ I wonder if they will let us in before nine. I’m 
afraid we will freeze if they don’t.” 

“ I hope they do, but I fear that they won’t. It is 
horribly cold,” replied the one addressed. 

“The directory may be late themselves,” said a 
third. 

“No, no, no! ” came a chorus of earnest protest. 

“No,” said the first speaker; “they would not 
keeii us waiting on such a night.” Then these men 

7 


98 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


ran np and down the street, stamping their feet and 
trying to keep their blood in circulation by exercise. 
Said one of the group, looking at the clock : 

“ Five minutes seem as long as an hour.” 

But the minutes did pass, and after what seemed 
an interminable period the clock slowly tolled nine 
in melodious tones. They were doubly melodious 
to these shivering men, but still no lights appeared 
in the windows and no one came to let tliem into 
the building. 

They looked at one another inquiringly and anx- ^ 
iously ; no one said a word. They saw there was 
nothing to do but to wait. A great deal depended 
on their meeting the directory and they did not 
dare to leave. 

The permission to address the directory was a 
special favor which might not be accorded them 
again, and they must remain while there was any 
hope of the directory coming. 

And so they remained suffering in the bitter 
cold. 

It certainly was a comical spectacle to see these old 
men jumping about like marionettes ; it was reall}- 
funny, and as from time to time gay parties in sleighs 
dashed past the building, they laughed long and 
loud at the grotesque spectacle. 

Slowly the minutes dragged on until the bell 
tolled a quarter-past nine. Still no lights apjieared 
neither did any one come to let them into the build- 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


99 


ing. Not a moment passed without their looking at 
the clock or uji at the building for light. 

Every one who apin^oached they expected and 
hoped to be the janitor. But men came from the 
north, east, west and south and passed the building 
by, — many of them doubtless wondering who these 
men were who stared at them so eagerly. 

People came by in wagons and in sleighs and on 
foot, but no one came to let these poor, half -frozen 
wretches into the Casino out of the cold that they 
might speak a few words for the benefit of their fel- 
low-laborers. 

Any one who has sat in a comfortable room sur- 
rounded by luxuries and waited for a caller or a 
messenger and has watched the clock under such 
circumstances and heard its slow, monotonous tick- 
ing, and has looked for indications of the expected 
one’s coming only to be disappointed, — has heard 
footsteps approach and pass, has had this repeated 
over and over again, has seen the minutes drag on so 
slowly, until the appointed hour was reached and 
then, nervous and weary with anxiety and nameless 
misgivings, at last gives up hope; and if such a 
one has done so in the midst of the most comfortable 
surroundings and the pleasantest circumstances, he 
can readily sympathize with this group of men wait- 
ing in the freezing atmosphere in front of the Casino. 

Still the minutes dragged on until the bell tolled 


100 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


half-past nine. The men were desperately cold and 
bitterly disai)pointed. 

A magnificent sleigh drawn by three black horses 
shot past the Casino; about a square above it turned 
and came back. It stopped at the curb in front of 
the building. 

“ What is that mob doing there ? ” came a voice 
from the sleigh. 

No one answered. 

“ Come here, some of you,” again came the voice. 

Two or three of the men started forward. 

What are you doing there ? ” said the occupant 
of the sleigh, a man buried in furs. 

“We were waiting for the Casino to open,” said 
one of the laborers. 

To open for what ? ” shouted the man in the 
sleigh. 

We are a committee of laborers who are to meet 
the directory this evening.” 

“Oh! yes,” said the man in the sleigh; “I know. 
Was it this evening, are you sure ? ” 

“ Yes, sir.” 

“Well, I think they have forgotten all about it. 
I know I had. AVell, anyway, they won’t meet you 
to-night. The greater part of the directory are at 
the opera, and after that they will attend Reed’s 
reception, so you had better scurry away to your 
homes.” 


I'HE REIGN OR SELFISHNESS. 


101 


Haven’t they set another date to meet us, sir ? ” 
said one of the laborers in a trembling voice. 

Oh, — er — I don’t know — perhaps — they may, or 
you can send another of your petitions if they 
haven’t.” 

“ Thank you, sir,” the laborer replied. 

By the way,” said the man in the sleigh, “ how 
long have you fellows been waiting on this cold cor- 
ner ? ” 

“ Since before nine o’clock,” replied several of the 
laborers. 

Since before nine ? Why, that is nearly an hour. 
Oh, ho ! ho ! ” laughed the man, “ a good joke.” And 
at a signal the sleigh shot off, while its occupant was 
still laughing merrily. The laborers took his advice 
and scurried to their homes. 


102 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

now LABORERS CAN AMUSE THE DIRECTORS. 

At Mr. Reed’s reception there was a wild burst of 
laughter from a group of the directory and their 
lady friends when Tom Drier (for he it was who 
hailed the laborers from the sleigh) told in a jocular 
way of the poor devils ” (as he expressed it) danc- 
ing in front of the Casino for nearly an hour. 

Tom was an humorist and imported into the story 
many funny details and, as he told it, the story was 
very funny. 

President Stilpool did not participate in the mer- 
riment caused by the discomfort and suffering of the 
laborers. He did not see the humor of it; on the 
contrary he was very angry; he was no trifler; he 
was a business man and believed in keeping his ap- 
pointments and so he looked at the matter from a 
purely business standpoint. 

He did not care for the committee or their suffer- 
ings or disapxiointments, nor did he care how they 
felt or thought or what they said ; he simply recog- 
nized the fact that an api)ointment had been made, 
not cancelled and not kept. He summarily checked 
the merriment by calling his secretary. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS, 


103 


The secretary appeared before him; he was one of 
the gilded youths of the day and decidedly arrogant 
among his associates, and very humble in the pres- 
ence of the x)resident. 

‘‘ Why, sir,” said the jiresident sternly, why was 
I not notified of the directory’s appointment to 
meet the laborers this evening? ” 

The secretary trembled under the president’s eye, 
as he stammered : 

“ It was only with the laborers, sir.” 

‘‘ W ell ? ” said the jDresident, interrogatively. 

I did not think it was of any imjiortance, sir,” 
muttered the secretary. 

“ Sir,” said the president, ‘‘ I will be the judge of 
what is imjiortant in these matters ; now go and ar- 
range for another meeting with these people, and if 
anything interferes with the directory keeping the 
apx)ointnient, notify them in time ; have you any- 
thing further to say ? ” 

The secretary rejilied humbly, No, sir.” 

Then go,” said the president. 

The secretary bowed humbly and said ‘Hhank 
you,” and retired hastily. 

There were no more broken engagements. The 
committee were notified on the following Monday 
that the directory would meet them on Wednesday, 
at nine p.m. 

On Tuesday they were notified that the directory 
would meet them on Friday at the same hour. 


104 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


So it came about that a few days after, at a select 
social gathering of millionaires and their friends, 
some one spoke of the laborers, and the proposed 
meeting. 

Some of the gilded youth told of humorous adven- 
tures which they had had with the laborers. 

Director Mayhew told a funny story of how forty 
or fifty of the laborers were at work loading a ship, 
and how the tackle broke and how half a dozen of 
them had been sent dangling over the water, and 
how they were struggling like monkeys to climb 
back to a place of safety when Tom Drier cut the 
rope by which they Avere suspended and splash, 
splash, splash they went into the river. One of 
them landed on a little cake of ice. 

‘^And,’- said the narrator, it was one of the fun- 
niest things you ever saw, the way in which he 
whirled and danced around as he pantomimed to the 
laborers to help him.” 

Was he saved ? ” asked pretty Nellie Lee. 

“ I don’t know,” said Mayhew, but we did have 
great fun fishing the others out ; we would throw a 
line to one of them ; pull him almost to the dock and 
then slacken up and let him drift, then pull him in 
again. I tell you it was the best fishing I ever had.” 

‘‘ Oh,what fun ! ” cried several of the girls in chorus. 

‘‘ Did the laborers get wet ? ” asked Dick Taylor. 

‘‘I suppose they did” — then with a smile of 
pleased recollection, he added, “ what am I thinking 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


105 


about ; of course they were wet, dripping, with the 
water pouring out of their clothes in streams.” 

Was it cold ? ” asked Minnie Haynes. 

“ Cold! I guess it was.” 

“ What did you do with them ? ” asked Prank 
Davis. 

Oh, we stood them up on the dock in a line, one 
after another, as we pulled them out. You should 
have seen them shake and the way their teeth did 
chatter. It was so funny that Carleton rolled over 
on the dock laughing.” 

‘‘ AVhat became of them ? ” asked Nellie. 

We made it all right with them ; we told the 
overseer to give them a day oft* to get dried out — 
but,” he added laughing, ‘‘ I almost forgot one of 
the funniest things of all. AVhen the overseer told 
them they could go home they started off and two 
of them were frozen together.” 

This brought out another laugh. 

“ I was Avitli Meiiey,” said Charley SufRn, “ riding 
to dinner at Glenridge one day last week, and Merley 
saw a laborer dodge behind some underbrush. 
‘ Now,’ says he, ‘ there’s a fugitive, let’s chase him ! ’ 
AVith that he gave a whoop and over the fence he 
went into the field. I followed. 

“ The fugitive heard the whoop and ran for the 
woods, and we after him. 

“The brush was rather heavy, so we had to go 
slowly. He was a good runner and he led us a 


106 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

good chase— blit we were in for fun so we did not 
mind. Sometimes we gained on him ; sometimes he 
gained on us.” 

Why didn’t you shoot him ? ” asked Mayhew. 

“ Why, that would have spoiled the fun ; we were 
having a hunt. Well, we kept uj) the chase for 
nearly half an hour, when we came upon him sud- 
denly hiding behind a tree. Would you believe it, 
the fellow had the impudence to show fight. He 
had a club and called out ‘ keep off.’ ” 

“ What did you do ? ” asked Miss Haynes. 

‘‘ Why, we simply rode him down and left him 
there.” 

“ What became of him ? ” asked Nellie. 

"‘I don't know; it was getting late and only by 
hard riding we got to Glenridge in time for dinner. 
We were only five minutes late.” 

Several other gentlemen related similar experi- 
ences, to the great delight of the company. 

After a pause. Lulu Wright burst out : 

“ Oh, Mr. Mayhew, are the laborers such terrible 
creatures ? ” 

“Well,” said ' Mayhew refiectively, “they are 
pretty bad.” 

“ O dear me,” said Lulu in pretty fright, “ do they 
bite ? ” 

“ They would like to,” replied Mayhew, “ but their 
teeth are drawn — or rather their pockets are empty, 
which is the same thing.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


107 


“Isn’t it nice,” said Lulu, “to have them so sub- 
missive. I should think they would kill their over- 
seers and every one who treated them badly.” 

“ They would kill every overseer and every direc- 
tor if they got the chance — and they could get the 
chance if they would only unite, sink self and niake^ 
common cause against their rulers. Yes, they could 
be free men in twenty-four hours.” 

“ By George,” said Frank Davis, looking around 
cautiously, “what you say may be heard by the 
laborers and they may take the hint, and ” 

“Revolt,” said Mayhew, finishing the sentence; 
“ my dear boy, you have nothing to fear ; no one 
here is going to rej)eat my remarks to the laborers, 
and if they did it wouldn’t make any difference, for 
the laborers couldn’t sink self and couldn’t make 
common cause against their masters.” 

“ Why ? ” asked Davis. 

“ Because if it were not for the selfishness of the 
oppressed there could be no oppressors. Here is a 
whole nation of millions of people submitting tamely 
to the most galling tyranny— for this is the finest 
despotism that has ever existed — at the hands of 
twenty-five hundred people, simply because each 
slave says to himself, ^ If I should join in a revolt I 
may suffer. I will not endanger my precious skin. 
I will wait for some one else to take the risk ; every- 
one for himself.’ There is your safety, gentlemen. 
This same selfishness or cowardice affords us more 


108 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


protection than an army of one million men, and we 
never need fear a revolt until these brutes are will- 
ing to forget self and work honestly for their fellow- 
men. 

Many despotisms heretofore have failed because 
they were not thorough enough, and because they 
allowed people to have money and property with 
which to support anarchists who seek to destroy 
despotism tyranny. 

Here lies the strength of the oligarchy ; it keeps 
the masses dependent for each day’s food on each 
day’s labor. The moment you relax that rule you 
are in the position of a sailor who cuts a hole in the 
bottom of his ship. 

“ See to it that the masses have to work all the time 
to keep themselves from starving, and they will have 
no time to plot mischief or anarchy.” 

‘‘Are they really going to let those terrible crea- 
tures into the Casino on Friday ? ” asked Miss Lee. 

“Yes,” said Mayhew; “I don’t see the use of it, 
but the president wants to hear their views, so they 
will be there ” — then with a yawn, “ it may be amus- 
ing.” 

“ Dear me,” said Minnie, “ I should like to see 
them; can’t we ladies go to the Casino on Friday ? ” 

“ Oh, that would be delightful,” said Miss Lee ; 
“ can’t we go ? ” she said coaxingly to Mayhew, 
“ say yes, that’s a good fellow.” 

Mayhew hesitated for a moment, then said, “I 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


109 


don’t see any objections. We will make up a party 
and go.” 

“ Good,” cried the girls. 

Then a number of pleasant parties were made up 
of the fairest ladies and the bravest gallants in the 
city, and the appearance of the committee of laborers 
before the directory bade fair to be one of the fash- 
ionable events of the season. 


110 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS, 


CHAPTER XIV. 

BEFORE THE DIRECTORY. 

Friday, tlie 10th day of February, was another 
savagely cold day, and as the sun went down it be- 
came still more cold. But the weather did not in- 
terfere with the comfort and pleasures of the direc- 
tory. 

The Casino Avas brilliantly illuminated. 

The meeting room of the directory was one beau- 
tifully adapted for the purpose to which it was to be 
devoted this evening. 

Indeed, it was oftentimes used for trial of ques- 
tions and disj)utes in relation to the affairs of the 
company and also in settling disputes of its mem- 
bers. 

The room was a perfect oval. At one end was a 
low platform upon Avhich was a long table or desk 
almost crescent-shaped, the horns pointing outward. 
Behind this was an elaborately-carved sounding 
board. 

This desk or table was for the use of the president 
and the inquiry committee ax^pointed by the direc- 
tory to meet the laborers. 

Around the room were a series of small boxes or 
balconies, each capable of holding from twenty to one 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Ill 


hundred people. Pendent from these balconies were 
hangings of different colored silks. The walls or 
rather the general tone of the walls was a rich golden 
brown boldly frescoed in kindred tints. 

The lofty ceiling was dome-shape and of stained 
glass. The floor was of polished wood, destitute of 
seats save a row of highly-ornamented settees fixed 
to the wall. 

At half-past eight the directors and their friends 
began to arrive. 

The jingle of sleigh bells rang out merrily on the 
cold night air as sleigh after sleigh dashed up to the 
entrance and deposited its occupants at the entrance 
of the Casino. 

As the balconies filled up they looked like bouquets 
of vari-colored flowers hanging from the walls. The 
fluttering fans, the signaling and recognizing friends 
from box to box made a most enlivening spectacle. 

The committee of the League had lealmed by bitter 
experience that it was not wise to be too early, and 
they arrived at the Casino three minutes before nine 
o’clock. They were met by the janitor and without 
ceremony ushered on to thre main floor of the board 
room. 

Coming as they did out of the dark, cold street 
into the warm, brightly -lighted, brilliantly-decorated 
hall, it was no wonder that they were dazzled and 
that they even staggered with surprise at the gor- 
geous scene into which they were ushered. 


112 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


“Here they are!” “Here they are!” came from 
the balconies as their occupants craned their necks 
to get a better view of this groiij) of cold, miserable 
and hunger-famished wretches who were blinking 
and cowering before this extravagant display of 
luxury. 

It was a most wonderful contrast of opulence and 
poverty. 

The committee, every one of whom had been rich 
at one time, fairly cowered before the splendor of 
the scene and they huddled together like sheep. 
They were overcome by their emotions and many of 
them buried their faces in their toil-worn hands 
while the tears trickled through their fingers. 

When the guests witnessed this scene, they whis- 
jjered, “ It is getting interesting already.” 

A silver gong sounded and a liveried usher opened 
a door to the right of the directors’ desk and the 
president entered and took his seat ; then a door 
was opened ^on the opposite side and the inquiry 
committee of the directory, ten in number, entered 
and took seats, five on the right and five on the left 
of the president. 

The clerks and secretaries then entered and sat at 
tables to right and left of the sounding board. 

The president tapped a square of marble with his 
gavel and said, “ The secretary will read the order of 
exercises.” 

The secretary read the order of exercises in a mag- 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


113 


nificent baritone voice which filled the room with 
melodious tones. 

“ Is there any other business before the commit- 
tee ? ” asked the president. 

The secretary then read the j)etition of the League 
committee and the reply of the directory. 

‘‘Are the committee of laborers here ? ” said the 
president. “ The secretary will call them.” 

The secretary then called out, “If there be any 
persons here who desire to speak to this committee 
of the directory, they will now present themselves.” 

Then the chairman of the League committee arose 
and moved to the centre of the room, followed by 
the other members of the committee ; there were 
fifteen in all. 

It was a singularly incongruous group and was 
almost picturesque as it stood in a sort of rough 
semicircle before the committee. 

The president broke the silence. He said : 

“ Is this the committee from the laborers ? ” 

The chairman, Adrian Shands, formerly chief jus- 
tice of the Supreme Court, stepped a little forward, 
and i na husky voice, scarcely audible, replied : “ It 


8 


114 


THE KEIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XV. 

PRO AND CON. 

‘‘ Proceed,” said the president. 

In a voice trembling and agitated, the chairman 
said, 

'‘In presenting our petition to your honorable 
body, we would say that as near as we can ascertain 
we voice the sentiments of one million people within 
a radius of ten miles and probably forty millions in 
the entire country. 

“ It lends strong emphasis to our appeal when we 
think that the population of the country has been 
reduced fifteen millions since the company has taken 
possession of the industries of this fair land, and 
the population in this vicinity has been reduced five 
hundred thousand. 

" There are a great many reasons for this, and 
among them I will name three — 

“ First, there has been a vast emigration to foreign 
countries. People have voluntarily exiled them- 
selves. 

" Second, that great changes in the method of liv- 
ing have wrought a reduction of the population. 

" Third, the people not being used to the extreme 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


115 


labor and the necessary privation incident to changed 
times, succumb to its effects by the thousands. 

This, your excellencies, is the cold way imtting 
these facts. 

But we must remember that mankind is tenacious 
of life; that life is sweet ; that man hates to part 
with and will resist every effort of man or disease 
to take it from him, and yet death has been our 
constant guest. 

Dying, your excellencies, is an individual act and 
when untimely it is generally a cruel, slow process. 

“ How, then, is this reduction of the population 
brought about ; what are its ministers and mediums ? 

‘‘ Overwork, lack of food, insufficient clothing, bad 
air in tenements, want of treatment and care in sick- 
ness. 

‘‘ These elements have made the workmen of to- 
day gaunt, hunger -haunted wretches who never know 
what a day’s comfort is and whose life is spent in a 
bitter struggle to get enough to eat. 

‘‘A single man can earn only sufficient to supj)ly 
his absolute wants, and if he marries his wife must 
do her share in keeping want from his hearthstone. 

“Where we have families, every member must 
contribute its aid if there is to be any comfort in the 
household, and with our best efforts we can scarce 
more than supply our most urgent needs. 

“ In winter we suffer from cold ; in summer from 
heat. 


116 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


“ I am past my sixtieth year and have to work 
fourteen hours a day, walk three miles to my work 
in the morning and three miles to my home at 
night. 

‘‘ 1 have never learned a trade and am at work as 
a common laborer. I have to move and carry heavy 
boxes and barrels, to load them on trucks and to 
carry them up and down stairs. 

“ I must keep up with younger men or I will be 
put on a lower grade of labor and earn less wages. 

“If I am slow or attempt to rest the overseer 
brings his scorpion about my shoulder and I am 
stung into activity. 

“ My wife died two years ago exhausted by work 
she was not used to. I had four daughters and three 
sons. I have now one son and two daughters. 

“ My youngest daughter died ten days ago ; she 
worked faithfully and hard as long as her strength 
lasted. Then she came home with a raging fever. 
We stayed up with her by turns and my other 
daughter was obliged to remain from work to watch 
her, we could ill afford the loss of time, but in 
spite of all our efforts she died.” 

Here the old man bowed his head in his hands and 
there was a buzz of whispering in the balcony. 

There was a pause of a few moments, then the old 
man raised his head and glanced sidewise at the 
whisi)ering peojjle in the balconies and then at the 
president. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


11 


The president’s gavel came down and the whisper- 
ing ceased. 

The old man resumed in a broken voice. 

“ If yonr excellencies please, when I give a state- 
ment of the condition of my own family, with a few 
exceptions it applies to nearly all the families of the 
laboring class. 

^^They are more or less intelligent and display 
different degrees of judgment in the management of 
their households and the use they make of their 
wages. Some are always at the starvation point, 
while the most thrifty and economical can save 
nothing but a few dollars and that only by a self- 
denial which is almost cruel. 

‘‘ In Pactolus and vicinity there are now about one 
million people. Of these there are only about ten 
thousand who are not wholly dependent on the com- 
pany for sustenance. Some have little stores or busi- 
ness of trifling importance by which they manage to 
live ; some have managed to keep money in quanti- 
ties sufficient to live. 

‘‘Two thousand resident directors enjoy three- 
fifths of the entire income of the country’s produce. 
Mnety-five per cent of the inhabitants are employees 
of the company. 

“ Three-fifths of these latter are unskilled laborers 
and they in a large measure are made up of those 
who in former times were employed as clerks, book- 


118 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


keepers, professional men, mercliants, manufacturers, 
bankers, brokers and agents. 

“ This class we commend to the special attention 
of the directory for the reason that when the change 
came and when their business was absorbed by the 
comi^any and they could find no field of employ- 
ment in their chosen occupation and not having 
knowledge of any trade or craft, they were obliged 
to work as laborers and associate and herd (for you 
cannot call it living) with the most ignorant ^ind 
brutal of mankind. 

“ Most of the people to whom I refer, even the 
clerks and book-keepers, are educated and have been 
brought up amidst refined surroundings. In the past 
they have enjoyed many comforts. Many of their 
children have also (before these cruel times came 
upon us) been delicately reared. 

‘‘ Now, when we think of what has been their con- 
dition, living comfortably with refined and elevating 
surroundings, and what their condition is now, labor- 
ing at work which is beyond their strength, compet- 
ing with men whose sole power lies in their physical 
strength and who have no sympathy with any of the 
higher aims of life ; that they are obliged to live in 
crowded tenements, that they are obliged to associate 
with those who are their inferiors in every way, the 
lot of these men is a sad one. And, when you add 
to this the element of privation which enters into 
almost every household, the cup of misery overflows. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


11'9 


‘‘ But wliat will I say of that other class, those who 
have not been clerks or book-keepers or employees, 
but were themselves men who in better days em- 
ployed in some cases thousands of people — men who 
a few years ago were the possessors of from fifty 
thousand dollars to over a million, and who lived in 
palaces; men who with their families enjoyed all the 
luxuries that money could buy ? Think of such men 
as these living with their families in a wretched ten- 
ement and working fourteen hours a day for just 
enough wages to su^iply their scantiest wants. I 
appeal to your excellency, is the change not a terri- 
ble one ? 

“ Then there is that great middle class, people, both 
men and women, who were j)ossessed of property to 
the amounts of from five thousand to fifty thousand 
dollars. There are tens of thousands of these and 
they likewise suffer and die from overwork — ^work 
to which they are unaccustomed, poor food, poor 
clothing and jioor habitation. 

“ The way in which the vitality oozed out of bus- 
iness and property is unprecedented. One by one 
the industries of this city seemed to lose their money- 
making power and even the power to support their 
owners, and accumulated wealth slipped through 
men’s fingers as if it were dry sand. 

In this committee (all of whom are day laborers) 
we have iive men who a few years ago were woiHi 
one hundred thousand dollars each; three who were 


120 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


worth from ten thousand to fifty thousand dollars 
each, and two who were worth nearly a million 
each. 

“ I personally hold five hundred thousand dollars 
of the stock of your great company, but I have not 
received a cent in dividends or interest for three 
years.” 

There was a cynical smile on the faces of more 
than one of the directors at this statement, for it 
was an open secret that the speaker while on the 
bench had rendered a series of decisions which were 
strange to law, but manifestly favorable to the com- 
pany and he had shortly thereafter become a heavy 
stockholder in the company. 

The old man raised his voice as he said : 

“ It is a bitterly singular fact that there are thou- 
sands of people who are the possessors of hundreds 
of thousands of this company’s stock who work as 
common laborers and mechanics for a bare subsist- 
ence and do not receive a dollar in the shape of either 
interest or dividends for all the money invested by 
them. 

“ It would seem that the company had fallen into 
the hands ” 

The president’s gavel came down with a crash and 
the speaker paused aghast. 

The i3resident spoke : — 

“ The company’s action is not to be criticised.” 

I beg the pardon of your excellenceis,” said the 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 121^ 

ex-justice. — I — was excited and was careless. 

I hope you will pardon me.” 

“ If you have anything further to say we will hear 
you.” 

It took the old man some time to recover his voice ; 
then he resumed : 

‘‘ If your excellencies j)lease, I fear that I have 
already trespassed too much on your valuable time, 
but before closing, I would like to say that if you 
would take the pains to investigate you would see 
that it is impossible for workmen to live on the 
wages they receive. I mean, not with any comfort, 
as a man or woman should live who have any desire 
above those of the lower animals.” 

The chair interrupted the speaker by tapping the 
desk with the gavel. 

Do we understand,” said the chair, that you 
wish the company to raise the wages of all the work- 
men equally ? ” 

The speaker hastened to reply : 

“ Oh, no, your excellencies, all we ask is that the 
workmen be graded and that the more intelligent 
men receive larger pay.” 

Then the president, in a clear, cold voice, said : 

“ The directory has consented to hear your ap- 
peal, not because it felt that you had any right to 
take up its time with such matters (for all relations 
between the company and its employees are mat- 
ters of contract into which neither party is in any 


123 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Avay bound to enter or remain), nor because it is its 
province to right wrongs — for the company is not a 
benevolent institution, nor because it feared any- 
thing wliich the workmen might do in the way of 
retaliation for imaginary grievances. 

“ For the company can take care of itself. But 
they meet you for the purpose of pointing out cer- 
tain errors which have found lodgment in working- 
men’s minds as to the relations and duties of the 
company to its employees. 

‘‘ It may as well be understood first as last that the 
company is in existence to make money and to use 
men, materials and elements for that purpose, and 
the company has no desire to be regarded in any 
other light. 

Now, the first thing I want to consider is the 
present and past times and their relations to men 
and Avonien. 

I am of the opinion that when you say that the 
times were much better for men before the company 
assumed the control of the products and industries 
of the country, you are in error ; if my recollection 
serves me right, there was much dissatisfaction in 
those times. Society was by no means perfect. 
There were eternal complaints of bad government. 
There were wrongs perpetrated on individuals and 
communities. 

Thei*e is one statement of your case which has 
weight — that the workmen cannot perform their 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


123 


allotted duties and tasks on tlie food which the wages 
will furnish them. 

“ That is a matter which concerns the earning ca- 
pacity of the company, and competent commissioners 
will be appointed to make experiments, apply tests 
and any changes they may recommend will be made. 

‘‘Aside from that I do not know that you say any- 
thing that is new or of practical value. 

“ You talk of suffering ; there has always been suf- 
fering. You talk of want ; there always has been 
want. You talk of injustice ; there has always been 
injustice. 

“ You talk of selfishness ; there always has been 
selfishness. You talk of hard work ; there has always 
been hard work. You talk of unrequited toil ; toil 
has never yet received its due. 

“You talk of the rich grinding the face of the 
poor ; when has it been otherwise ? 

“ You talk of poverty ; when was mankind free 
from poverty ? 

“ You have not spoken of intemperance or crime 
nor of morality. 

“ For if you had, you would have said that there 
never has been less crime or intemperance or a bet- 
ter moral condition. 

“ The newspapers of past times contained an al- 
most daily fusillade of charges of corruption and 
fraud against all branches of the government — na- 
tional and municipal. 


124 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Every law passed was regarded with suspicion if 
it had anything to do with business or money. 

Every act of the executive was scrutinized, every 
contract or franchise which was awarded by local 
authorities was said to be discharged with dishon- 
esty. 

‘‘ This may have all been vapor, but there were two 
facts which lent vitality and substance to all these 
charges. 

‘‘Influence was required to secure legislation in 
every instance, and public works cost in many in- 
stances three times as much as the same work could 
be done for private parties. 

“Either the public purse was being constantly 
looted or libel and slander was rampart. 

“ The administration of the law was said to be un- 
just and inequitable. 

“ The law is always merciful to the rich. It was 
more so then than now. 

“ That justice was bought and sold was an oi)en 
charge. 

“ The law was a great net Avhich firmly held the 
little offenders while the great malefactors tore their 
way through its meshes. 

“ Great enterprises were carried through, by means 
of which groups of rich men were further enriched 
by joroperty taken from their fellows. Oftentimes 
the court, when appealed to for protection, stretched 
its conscience to the limits and beyond the limit of 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


125 


judicial integrity in giving judicial sanction to wliat 
was to all intents and purpose conspiracy and rob- 
bery. 

‘‘ Less harsh terms were used, but the result was 
the same: one man had another man’s property and 
had acquired it without consideration. 

“ The variety of forms which this method of acquir- 
ing property assumed was only limited by the in- 
genuity of the men who profited. 

‘‘ If the wrong-doer was rich, the law seemed pow- 
erless to punish. 

“In business, the word 4ionor’ seemed to have 
been obsolete. The more unscrupulous the merchant, 
the greater the measure of his success. 

“ Business was conducted on lines which excluded 
conscience from the market and the exchange. Hon- 
esty and truth could not compete with untruth and 
dishonesty. 

“ If then we had the patience and time we could 
compare the state of society before the creation of 
the company with society of to-day and feel well 
satisfied that we have advanced. 

“ What was the society of the past for which you 
so sincerely mourn? 

“ Tear off its gaudy mask and what was beneath ? 
Selfishness, greed, hypocrisy, brutality and oppres- 
sion. 

“ There were times and places where certain jfiiases 
of society contained elements which were good and 


126 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


beautiful and beneficial to men, but tliis was tlie ex- 
ception; from the highest society, where none but 
the so-called noble entered, to that of the ordinary 
classes, whose passport was but a decent suit of 
clothes, selfishness, insincerity, and cruelty seemed 
to rule. Society always welcomed people whose 
titles or money were procured by means which were 
contrary to the laws by which society was governed, 
even though such people openly violated the moral 
codes established by society. 

Is it any wonder then that men and women, par- 
ticularly in what was known as the first society, spent 
their time in trying to outdo one another in the 
splendor and extravagance of their displays at their 
social gatherings and that, with wolfish instinct, they 
pursued even to death any one who was unfortu- 
nate. 

“ If a man or woman made a misstep, society swiftly 
scanned his or her surroundings ; if such were inde- 
pendent and rich or in a position to defy society, 
society looked the other way and if it spoke at all 
spoke in whispers of ‘errors’ or ‘eccentricities,’ 
even though the tresi)asser had been guilty time and 
again. 

“ If the trespasser happened to be poor or without 
influence, then society opened the flood-gates of its 
wrath and its myriad-voiced denunciation became 
tliunderous in its pitiless rebukes ; and oftentimes 
truth was lost sight of in tlie clamor. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


12 ' 


“ Society had rigid moral laws, but they were not 
for the rich. These laws were practically ignored 
by some, while others were amenable to their slight- 
est infraction. 

‘‘Everywhere from the court to the cot of the 
peasants was felt the oppression which money placed 
upon man and his liberties. 

“ The people in those days were no better off from 
a physical standpoint than they are to-day. The 
vast mass of mankind had only the barest necessa- 
ries ; with an awful uncertainty haunting them from 
day to day, they never knew when their means of 
livelihood would fail. At all times there was a vast 
number who could not get work, for whom there 
was no work — how they lived God only knows — but 
from this class the lesser criminals — those criminals 
who were punished for their crimes — were recruited. 
How many of the men who have acquired large 
amounts of wealth were more honest than these? 
How many of them were not morally more deserving 
of prison than the slum-bred criminal ? 

“ The criminal of the slums went to prison, while 
the criminal of the palace defied the law. 

“ It was a common complaint in those days that 
the law barred the rich criminal out of prison and 
barred the poor criminal in, and that too under the 
same law; but there was always more than one way 
of looking at a law, and an ingenious way which 
courts had of ‘ distinguishing ’ their former decisions 


128 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


and rulings was very comforting to malefactors 
whose ‘ operations ’ were large. 

I have taken pains to say what I have said in 
order to show you that when you regret the times 
that are past and speak of them as being exception- 
ally good and pleasant, you were mistaken. Those 
times were no better for the people as a whole than 
are the present times. 

The governments of those times did not manage 
the affairs of the nation better than the company 
does now. 

“There was steady cause of complaint against 
every department at all times ; wrongs and injustice 
to individuals and communities were continuous and 
unremitting; men’s liberties and what are known as 
human rights were not respected any more than they 
are now. 

“ The ideal government was good, but it was not 
lived up to in practical life. 

“You ask the comjiany to change its policy in 
regard to the wages of its laborers and to give cer- 
tain classes of workmen more than others. 

“ In this you show the old spirit of selfishness and 
self-seeking which was the bane of society in the 
past. 

“ Certain of your people desire to be a little better 
than their neighbors at the expense of their fellows. 

“ This the company will not allow. There will be 
but one grade of em jdoyees ; whether they be clerks, 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


129 


book-keepers, mechanics or unskilled laborers, they 
will be known as laborers and they will receive equal 
pay according to the age schedule. 

There are a great many reasons for this, the prin- 
cipal one of which is that in personal rivalry and 
competition the laboiws’ attention would be diverted 
from their work and the discipline would be im- 
paired.” 

The president paused for a moment and then 
added, ‘‘ Is there anything else you wish to say ?” 

The ex- judge shook his head in a hopeless way as 
he answered, “Nothing.” 

The president nodded to the secretary. 

“ The laborers will retire,” said the secretary. 

The committee looked sadly and longingly around 
the room, at its splendor, at the balconies and their 
occupants, at the rich hangings, at the splendid ap- 
parel and the magnificent jewelry, and all the evi- 
dences of wealth and comfort. 

Then with a shudder they gathered their worn 
garments about them and went out into the dark- 
ness and cold. 

The directors vacated the dais. 

An orchestra took possession of it ; then there was 
a burst of melody. 

The occupants of the balconies descended to the 
floor, and the remainder of the night was passed in 
dancing, feasting and gayety. 

9 


130 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XVL 

WHERE ARE THE TEN MILLIONS ? 

Leon Pelon was not practical ; he had never 
worked or attended to business, nor had he ever had 
any idea of business. Notwithstanding this, when 
he arrived in Pactolus, he was struck with the 
change which had taken place in the city during 
the few years of his absence. 

As he rode from the steamer to his hotel, he no- 
ticed the streets had a neglected appearance. In a 
number of them he noticed that grass was growing in 
crevices of the pavement ; in the gutters and on each 
side of the roadway. He noticed that great num- 
bers of the buildings were closed and barred up, and 
in the corners of the doorways heaps of dust had 
accumulated. 

Wherever iron was exposed it showed signs of 
rust and neglect. Even on the main street and the 
other great thoroughfares, he saw whole rows of 
buildings which evidently were used only for the 
storage of goods. 

The houses were numbered with great figures in 
white on black backgrounds ; there were also great 
buildings which were marked according to the busi- 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


131 


ness carried on in them, thus : ‘‘Cotton Mill, No. 
300,” or “Woolen Mill, No. 500,” or “Clothing Fac- 
tory, No. 200,” then beneath each of these were the 
letters “ U. S. Co.” No individual name appeared 
on any of the buildings. 

One feature struck Leon with peculiar force • there 
appeared to be no wholesale or retail stores. 

Immediately after reaching his hotel Leon started 
out to see his guardian. He went to the house where 
Mr. Sinclair resided. The house was greatly im- 
proved. He rang the bell ; a servant opened the 
door and to Leon’s question replied that Mr. Sinclair 
was not at home. 

“ Is Mrs. Sinclair in ? ” he asked. 

“ No,” the servant reijlied, “ she is at Glenford.” 

“And is Miss Sinclair in ? ” 

“ No,” said the girl, “ she is with her mother.” 

“ Where will I find Mr. Sinclair ? ” asked Leon. 

“ He is at the office of the company.” 

“ What company ? ” 

The servant stared at him and replied : 

“ The United Supply Company.” 

Leon turned away in disgust saying to himself : 

“ This servant is intolerably stupid.” 

The servant looked after Leon and said to herself, 
“ That young man doesn’t seem to know anything.” 

Leon turned to the cab driver and said : “ Do you 
know where the office of the United Supply Com- 
imny is ? ” 


132 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


The man stared for a second and replied : “ Yes, 
sir.” Then to himself he said, I wonder if he takes 
me for a fool, as if everybody don’t know where the 
office of the company is.” 

Leon ^ot into the hack feeling very much mysti- 
fied and was driven to the door of a large build- 
ing. 

On his inquiring for Mr. Sinclair, he was referred 
to a gentleman who said he was Mr. Sinclair’s secre- 
tary and would attend to any business relating to 
that gentleman’s affairs. 

Leon said : I wish to see him personally,” and 
handed the secretary his card. 

The secretary told him to take a seat and sent the 
card to an inner room. 

After waiting for more than an hour, word was 
brought to him that Mr. Sinclair would see him. 

He found his guardian in a gorgeously-appointed 
office, looking somewhat older than when he had 
last met him. 

Mr. Sinclair’s manner was very cold and after the 
first greeting and inquiries to which Mr. Sinclair 
replied very briefly. He was especially cold and 
formal in his replies to inquiries made by Leon as 
to his wife and daughter. There was an embarrass- 
ing pause ; then Sinclair said in rather an uncom- 
fortable way, ‘‘ I am afraid that your father’s estate 
is in a very bad way ; in fact, to be brief, it is bank- 
rupt.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


133 


Why, how is that ? ” faltered Leon, I thought 
Hiy father left a great deal of property.” 

“ Well, so he did,” said Sinclair, but it is invested 
in unproductive real estate and don’t bring any in- 
come ; then a great deal was invested in stock com- 
panies which have been absorbed by the company 
or frozen out of business; in fact, the estate is in- 
debted to me to the amount of several thousand dol- 
lars.” 

Leon was dumb. He stared stupidly at Mr. Sin- 
clair as though he were in a dream. He grew hot 
and cold and at times felt as if he were floating in 
space; his mind went back to Heidelberg and Paris ; 
he thought of the way lie had squandered money, 
and it made him dizzy. Now he thought he could 
live on less than ten thousand a year, but it was too 
late. Then he thought of Millicent and their en 
gagement and a warm wave of hope came over him. 

Poverty to him was something horrible to contem- 
plate ; he did not see how he could endure it, suffer- 
ing or want he had never known, but he had often- 
times seen those who were afflicted in that way and 
he had shuddered as he thought of even the remote 
possibility of his being in such a condition. 

As he thought of Millicent his hope rallied and 
he felt that his affairs were not in such a bad condi- 
tion as appeared at flrst. 

All of these thoughts rushed through his mind in 
a few seconds, but the last thought cheered him only 


134 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

for a moment. He was chilled to the heart as Mr. 
Sinclair repeated in a hard and cold voice, Yes, the 
estate is indebted to me in several thousand dollars,” 
and then added, have you the money to pay me ? ” 

Poor Leon stared at him in a dazed way for a mo- 
ment, then answered mechanically, “Not now.” 

The tone and manner of Sinclair in making this last 
remark was such as to kill all hope which Leon had 
entertained. He arose to go and Sinclair did not de- 
tain him ; he did not invite him to call at his office 
again nor to visit him at his home. 

Leon followed the servant or attendant through the 
several apartments and out into the street. He got 
into the cab and said to the driver in a hoarse voice, 
“back to the hotel.” 

Arrived at the hotel he went to his room and 
ordered a bottle of brandy. He drank glass after 
glass until he fell in a drunken sleep on the bed. 

He did not leave his room for three days. This 
gave him an opportunity to get thoroughly drunk 
and i^assably sober. 

He then thought to himself that something was 
wrong. He couldn’t understand why the vast estate 
which his father had left to him could have been 
dissipated in so short a time. 

After debating the matter back and forth for some 
time he said, “ 1 will consult a lawyer^ — but what 
lawyer ? ” 

He squeezed his aching head between his hands 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


135 


and thought and thouglit and as a result of his think- 
ing the name of a lawyer came to his mind. Lapsley 
was the name ; years before he had seen him at his 
father’s house at some festivities and the lawyer had 
spoken to him in a kindly way and told him that 
w^henever he needed counsel to come to him. This 
he knew was said in the way of banter, but he con- 
cluded that he woula see him and ascertain at all 
events why he was penniless. 

He went down to the office of the hotel and made 
inquiries for the whereabouts of Lapsley. 

After a long search through some old directories, 
he learned that he was located in one of the down- 
town streets. 

Calling at the office mentioned in the directory, 
he was informed by the janitor of the building that 
Mr. Lapsley had given uj) the practice of law and 
was working in one of the conqiany’s shoe factories. 

Further inquiry of this janitor developed the fact 
that in the whole city of Pactolus there were not 
more than thirty lawyers. Most of them, the jani- 
tor told him, were about to give up their profession 
because there was little or no litigation, except such 
as was carried on in the interest of the company. 

Still he was determined to have legal advice, so 
hap-hazard he called on a lawyer by the name of 
John Rusk. 

Mr. Rusk was a middle aged man rather stoutly 
built. Leon told him of his father’s death, of his 


136 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


living at Heidelberg, of Sinclair’s guardianship and 
of his interview with his guardian and when he was 
through Mr. Kusk said : ‘‘ It may be all right or it 

may appear to be, which will amount to the same 
thing.” 

‘‘ What do you mean ? ” said Leon. 

“I mean that if the accounts were kept correct 
and ordinary shrewdness exercised in the transfer 
ring of the estate to your guardian, I don’t think he 
will have much trouble in keeping it.'' 

Why should that be ? ” said Leon. 

‘‘Well,” replied Mr. Rusk, “the executor could 
at any time within the past two years have so in 
vested the estate that it would become moneyless in 
a year.” 

“ How do you mean ? ” asked Leon. 

“ By investing in securities whose values ooze out 
shortly after the money is put into them. This has 
been done in real estate investments and all that can 
be charged against the executor is that his judgment 
was bad. Of course, I mean, bad for the estate. 

“Now, for the last few years circumstances have 
very much favored that sort of — wisdom — I had al- 
most said rascality, but that term don’t apply to rich 
people. Now, you see, there is little or no practice 
of law ; the courts are controlled by what is known 
as influence. The cases are not decided on their 
merits. Then values have shrunken so that there is 
to-day nothing of any value except a seat in the 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 13')' 

board of the directory of the United Supply Com- 
pany. However, Mr. Felon, if you will stop in to- 
morrow afternoon, I will in the mean time see what 
can be done.” 

I Leon departed. 

Next day at three o’clock he appeared in the law- 
yer’s office. Mr. Rusk shook hands with him in a 
sympathetic way as he said: “ I am sorry, but I can’t 
do anything for you, my boy. I am afraid your 
case is hopeless.” 

Mr. Rusk had spoken to Mr. Sinclair’s secretary 
and the secretary gave him a meaning look as he 
said: “You may by some remote contingency in- 
duce Mr. Sinclair to allow a suit to be brought 
against him, but it is hardly possible. If you under- 
take the case and win you will be ruined, and if you 
lose you will be ruined.” 

“ But,” said the lawyer, “ it is pretty hard on the 
young fellow, he ought to have justice.” 

“ So he ought,” said the secretary, “ so ought thou- 
sands of others, but I am not the kind of reformer 
who try to mend buzz saws when they are in motion. 
There is but one safe rule in this world and that is, 
‘ every man for himself.’ If you are wise, Mr. Rusk, 
you wdll not attempt to fool with the buzz saw.” 

Mr. Rusk took the hint. 

Leon left Mr. Rusk’s office more bewildered than 
ever. As a matter of course he was not satisfied 
with Mr. Rusk’s disposition of the case and he went 


138 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

to another lawyer. He related the facts to him and 
the lawyer said in a sharp voice, What do you say 
was the name of the executor and your guardian ? ” 

“ Daniel Sinclair,” said Leon. 

What, the director ? ” cried the lawyer aghast. 

“ Yes, sir.” 

Well, I can do nothing for you. Good-day, sir ; ” 
and the lawyer opened the door. 

Leon had now^ about lost hope, but he mechani- 
cally walked into the oflSice of another lawyer. 

No sooner had he mentioned the name of Sinclair 
than the lawyer jumped to his feet, saying : It is 
no use talking any further. I am too busy now to 
undertake your case.” 

Weary and heartsore Leon returned to his hotel ; 
he did not venture out for several days. Then the 
clerk of the hotel sent his bill. This rather startled 
Leon. He counted his money ; he found he had but 
$500. He paid his bill and began to think of econo- 
mizing. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


139 


CHAPTER XVIL 

MARK HITON — LAWYER. 

Late in the afternoon he went down-stairs and 
walked in the hotel corridor in a most gloomy frame 
of mind. 

The hotel clerk handed him a letter ; he tore it 
open and read it. It was written on a lawyer’s let- 
ter sheet and ran thus : 

“ Mr, Leon Felon, 

“ Dear Sir : — I would like to see you. at my ofBce 
to-morrow at 12 o’clock. Mark Hiton.” 

It would have amused Leon’s European friends to 
have seen him as he read this note. He read it over 
and over again ; then he looked at his watch ; then 
walked up and down the hotel corridor ; he went to 
his room, then went out and walked up one street 
and down another ; then he went to the street where 
the oflSce of Hiton was located and cautiously ap- 
proached the building. 

He looked at it from the opposite side of the street 
standing in a doorway; he gazed at the building for 
half an hour. 

Men came out. Leon peered at them anxiously 
and wondered if any of them was the lawyer he was 


140 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

to call on. He gazed at the building until it was 
dark; then the janitor came down and locked the 
outer door. And not till then did Leon return to 
his hotel. 

He went through the form of eating his dinner, 
but everything was tasteless; he went to his room 
but could not stay there; he went into the street 
and walked until the clock struck twelve; then he 
went back to the hotel and to bed, but he could not 
sleep. 

After what seemed an almost interminable period 
he heard the clock strike one. Then when he ex- 
pected to see daylight he heard the clock strike two. 
There he lay and heard each hour strike until six 
o’clock when he fell into an unquiet slumber. 

He slept until ten o’clock and awoke with a start. 
He dressed in great haste and was in the neighbor- 
hood of Mr. Hiton’s office by half-j)ast eleven. He 
walked around the block and in the neighborhood 
until the clock struck twelve ; then he hastened to 
the building and entered. 

The manners of the trembling individual who 
stood in the outer office of lawyer Hiton, hat in 
hand, asking in a hesitating voice if he could see 
Mr. Hiton, was in decided contrast with the manners 
of the same individual a few weeks before at Heidel- 
berg or Paris. 

The office boy took Leon’s card into the private 
office, while Leon sat in a corner holding his hat. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


141 


Once in a while lie could hear voices in the private 
office, but strain his ears as he would he could not 
distinguish a connected sentence. 

Sometimes he would hear a burst of hearty laugh- 
ter, which he thought ill-timed, considering the 
gravity of the matter he had to present to the 
lawyer. 

Fully one-half an hour he waited; then there was 
an uproarious burst of laughter and the door opened 
and five men came out laughing. 

One of them eyed Leon sharply as he passed him, 
then the office boy said to Leon, Now, sir.” 

Leon entered the office. 

Mr. Hiton’s face was still wrinkled with the mer- 
L- hnent of the last laugh. As Leon entered the room 
-• .0 was tying up a bundle of papers. He was a 
?;earty, good-looking individual ; he turned to Leon 
with a smile on his face. 

So you are Mr. Felon, are you ? ” said he. 

‘‘ Yes, sir,” said Leon. 

Take a seat.” 

Leon took a seat and braced himself to tell the 
story. 

“ So your guardian has treated you very badly ? ” 
Leon was surprised at this knowledge of his af- 
fairs, but he answered : 

Yes, sir, he has taken everything.” 

You say the estate was worth over seven million 
dollars when your father died? ” 


142 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


“ I didn’t know the amount, sir,” said Leon rather 
startled at the sum named. 

The lawyer paid no attention to the interruption, 
as he went on. 

“ And you say that with ordinary care and fore- 
sight it should by this time be worth nine millions.” 

‘‘I didn’t — er— er — say,” faltered Leon as his eyes 
bulged out with surprise. 

The lawyer again went on without paying the 
least attention to the interruption. 

‘‘And you say (with considerable emphasis on 
say) that this executor and guardian betrayed his 
trust in the most villainous manner.” 

Leon opened his mouth to speak but merely took 
a deep breath. He knew he hadn’t said anything 
of the kind, but he had no chance to deny it. 

“ You say,” said the lawyer, “ that he kept you in 
Heidelberg so that he might despoil the estate in 
your absence, that he only allowed you ten thousand 
a year which was not a twentieth part of the income.” 

Poor Leon thought of the twenty thousand a year 
which was so necessary to his happiness and which 
he might as well have had as not. 

“ You say,” went on the lawyer, “ that this execu- 
tor and guardian systematically changed the invest- 
ments; that he sold good paying securities and 
substituted worthless ones; you say that within six 
months he called in two millions five hundred thou- 
sand dollars which was invested in bond and 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 143 

mortgage on real estate and wliich was as good 
security as the market afforded and i)l^ced it on 
real estate which was unproductive and unmarket- 
able. That not a dollar of interest was paid after 
the change, and no money was realized on the se- 
curity. That the property is utterly worthless ” 

Leon gave a gasp as he said, “ I — I don’t know 
as ” 

‘‘ Yes, you do,” said the lawyer, on information 
and belief.” 

Oh ! ” said Leon, drawing in his breath. 

‘‘You verily believe,” said the lawyer, as if he 
were delivering a lecture, as he occasionally glanced 
at some slips of paper, “ that through the aid and 
connivance and through other parties unknown to 
you, and by violating the terms of his trust he has 
converted to his own use the whole of the estate left 
by your father, and that he is now in possession 
and enjoyment of the same.” 

The lawyer continued in this strain for some time 
while Leon looked at him in a helpless sort of way. 
At length he said, “I didn’t know he was such a 
rascal.” 

“Well,” said Mr. Hiton, with a yawn, “ we are all 
rascals, only we are not all found out. Johnson,” 
he called. 

“ Yes, sir,” said a voice so close to Leon that it 
made him start, and Johnson came from behind a 


screen. 


144 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Is it ready ? asked the lawyer. 

“ 111 a inoinent, sir,” and Johnson again disappeared 
behind the screen. 

Leon wanted to speak to Mr. Iliton, but that gen- 
tleinan was busily engaged in looking over some 
papers. 

In a few niiimtes Johnson returned with a num- 
ber of neatly written sheets of paper. 

Now,” said the lawyer, turning to Leon, “sign 
this and sAvear to it.” 

“ AVhat is it, sir ? ” faltered Leon. 

“ AVhy, it is Avliat you have been saying. There,” 
said the laAvyer touching a line, sign right there.” 

Leon signed without the slightest idea of Avhat he 
Avas doing. 

You SAA^ear,” said the hiAvyer, raising his hand. 

Leon mechanically raised his hand and said, 
“ SAvear.” 

“ That’s right,” said the hiAvyer, and he handed the 
papers to Johnson, aaJio carried them aAvay. 

“ You are living at the Central Hotel ? ” said the 
hiAvyer. 

‘'Yes, sir.” 

“ Ho you like it there ? ” 

“ Not very Avell,” said Leon. 

'' IIoAv AA ould you like to hoe corn or dig potatoes 
for a living?” asked the hiAvyer Avith a meaning 
look. 

The question aaus as startling as though the lawyer 


The reion of selfishness. 145 

liad thrown a cup of cold water into Leon’s face. 
He felt like a man who was suddenly plunged into 
a cold bath. He looked at the lawyer to see if he 
was joking, then said in a feeble voice, “ I would not 
like it.” 

Now,” said the lawyer, looking him squarely in 
the eyes, ‘‘ listen, you must leave that hotel at once 
— at once; do you understand? You must not go 
back. I will send for your baggage and have it 
stored. I will assign you a place to live. You will 
go to work to-morrow ; have you learned any trade ? ” 

Leon was so weak that he was just able to say in 
a faltering tone, No.” 

“I thought not,” said the lawyer. “Well, you 
will have to go to work as a laborer.” 

Leon flushed angrily as he said, “ I will do noth- 
ing of the sort.” 

“ Now, young man, don’t be hasty,” said the law- 
yer ; “ you can do as you please, there is no compul- 
sion about the matter, but before you make up your 
mind finally let me say this : If you don’t go to 
work as a laborer in Pactolus you will go to work 
as a laborer on some of the country plantations and 
you will never be heard of again.” 

Leon saw by the lawyer’s face that he meant what 
he said. 

“ Perhaps,” continued the lawyer, “ it is only fair 
for me to say that Sinclair has a vast amount of 
power; he has a thousand men in this city who will 

lO 


146 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

do anything he requires. The moment proceedings 
are begun for the recovery of your father’s estate 
you will be kidnapped and sent to some distant part 
of the country, or” — the lawyer paused — ‘‘ you may 
be found drowned in the river. We have thought 
the matter over carefully and concluded that the 
only way we can checkmate Sinclair is to bury you 
in some of the gangs of laborers. 

‘‘But,” said Leon, and the tears came into his 
eyes, 

“ There is no ‘ but ’ about it,” said the lawyer posi- 
tively ; “ the whole matter has been gone over care- 
fully and has been settled; now, unless you follow 
our directions implicitly, without question, we will 
throw up the case. Now, what will you do ? ” 

“ I don’t know,” said Leon in a helpless way. 

“That’s just what I thought,” said the lawyer, 
“you don’t know; well, I will tell you what you 
will do ; you will change your clothes before you 
leave this building, and go right in among the 
laborers; your name will be George Wilson.” 

“ How long will I be with the laborers ? ” asked 
Leon. 

“ I don’t know,” said the lawyer. 

“ Will you be able to win my case ? ” he asked. 

“ I don’t know. Mind,” said the lawyer, “ if you 
have any regard for your life, don’t say anything 
about your affairs or these proceedings and, above 
all things, don’t reveal your identity.” 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 147 

The lawyer rang a bell three times. Leon felt a 
choking sensation in his throat as he said : When 
will 1 see you again ? ” 

‘‘ When we want you we will send for you.” 

At that moment a man entered; the lawyer turned 
to him and said: “ This is George Wilson; you have 
your instructions.” 

The man bowed and motioned to Leon who arose 
and, in a dazed sort of way, followed the man out of 
the room ; he felt as a man who had been condemned 
to imprisonment. 

His conductor led the way to a small room on the 
other side of the outer office, and pointing to some 
coarse clothes lying on a chair, said: ‘‘There are 
your clothes, put them on.” 

Leon was in the condition of a man who had lost 
all ]X)wer of resistance. He did what he was told 
without demur. 

“ Your clothes and jewelry will be kept for you,” 
said his conductor, as Leon finished dressing and 
stood before him transformed into a laborer. 

Just then the lawyer entered; he turned to 
Leon. 

“ You will please remember that we are under no 
obligation to take up your case, but we will do the 
best we can, provided you aid us as far as you know 
how.” 

“ How ? ” said Leon. 

“ By concealing your identity; but if you by stu- 


148 


THE REIGN Of SELFISHNES§. 


pidity or inattention betray yourself, 1 don’t think 
we will be able to aid yon farther.” 

“Yon speak of ‘we,’” said Leon. “May I ask 
how ‘ we ’ is made up ? ” 

“No,” said the lawyer, “I am the only ‘we’ yon 
can know,” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


149 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

SLANDER. 

Leon was one of those most careless of mortals; 
lie did not seem to desire to assume responsibilities, 
either great or small ; when he wanted anything it 
was almost always within reach — not in the quanti- 
ties he desired but enough to secure his reasonable 
wants — and so it had always been; he was a spoiled 
child from his infancy. 

If he had anything to do, he did it, if he felt like 
doing it; if he did not feel so disposed, he let it pass 
no matter what the costs or consequences might be. 
He said, “ I am in the world to enjoy myself, and 
anything that interferes with my pleasure or com- 
fort I avoid or I will have it removed from my vicin- 
ity.” 

There was one duty he did perform regularly, and 
probably because it was more of a pleasure than a 
duty; this was writing his weekly letter to Millicent. 
She was also faithful in the correspondence. Leon 
received a letter from her each week. 

One day— her letter day, as Millicent called it — 
her father came home as usual, kissed her as usual, 
sat throughout the dinner as usual, but did not, as 


150 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


usual on her letter day, toss her a letter with his 
customary remark — 

Here is some candy for you, Millie.” 

Millicent was a very sensitive girl and she watched 
her father all through dinner, hoping each moment 
that he would give her a letter. She was afraid to 
ask for it lest she’ would be subjected to the usual 
teasing. Then she thought there had been some 
delay in the mails, as a number of hints had no effect 
in producing a letter. 

She waited until the next day, but the letter did 
not arrive, and on the third day she said: 

‘‘ Papa, have you a letter for me ? ” Her father 
moved uneasily in his chair and did not look at her 
as he said hastily, “No.” 

“ Is there any delay in the mails ? ” she asked. 

Her father became still more uneasy as he said : 

“ There may be.” Then as Millicent looked search- 
ingly at him he added, “ No, no. The mails are all 
right.” 

A month passed and Millicent received no letter 
from Leon. She in the mean time had Avritten sev- 
eral letters to him asking why he had not written, 
but received no reply. 

There is a reason for everything, and the reason 
why Millicent received no letter from Leon can be 
easily explained. The Hon. Daniel Sinclair had re- 
sorted to the old trick of intercepting the letters of 
both Millicent and Leon. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


151 


He imagined that he was enjoying himself as he 
read and made cynical comments on the letters of 
the young lovers, after which he burned them. 

One evening, a little more than a month after Mil- 
licent had ceased to receive letters from Leon, Mr. 
Sinclair was in his library; he sent for Millicent and 
as she came in he said to her: Sit down, Millicent,” 
he motioned to a low stool at his feet; she sat down 
resting her arm on his knee. 

He talked on several subjects of gossip, but Milli- 
cent took but a languid interest in them; she had 
become very listless of late and seemed to have grown 
more and more sad and thoughtful day by day. 

They were sitting in front of the fire gazing at the 
glowing embers, when Sinclair said: 

I fear, Millie, that Leon has turned out bad.” 

Why ? ” she said eagerly turning and facing her 
father. 

Sinclair avoided her eye as he continued: 

‘‘Oh, he has got in with a lot of bad men and 
women and has squandered all of his estate.” 

He put special emphasis on the word women. 

“I hear that he has been living at a frightful 
rate.” 

“ From whom did you learn this ? ” asked Millicent. 

“ Oh, from some people who are over there. Here 
are some letters.” Her father took several letters 
from his pocket and read extracts from them which 
gave details of Leon’s alleged excesses. 


152 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Occasionally he would pause abruptly in his read- 
ing and say : 

This is not tit for you to hear.” 

Millicent struggled to be calm; her eyes were dis- 
tended and her breath was coming thick and fast; 
she seemed to be struggling with a fierce conflict and 
before he had finished reading the letters, she said 
in an agitated voice : 

‘‘ Can nothing be done to save — stop him ? ” 

‘‘I fear not,” answered her father; “once a gam- 
bler, always a gambler.” 

There was a long pause while Millicent gazed at 
the fire. Her father watched her closely; after a 
time he broke the silence by saying, in a voice of 
assumed carelessness: 

“How much better it is that we found him out 
before ” 

He had put his hand on her head, and was going 
to say “ marriage,” but Millicent brushed his hand 
away, and rising went toward the door. 

“ Where are you going, Millicent ? ” he called. 

“ I am going to my room — my head aches,” she said. 

Her father was startled as he caught sight of the 
pale face which seemed drawn with agony. 

When she reached her room she threw herself 
across the bed and lay there for hours thinking, 
thinking, thinking and weighing the facts that her 
father had brought to her notice. They all seemed 
to prove that Leon was unwortliy. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


153 


She asked herself the question “ Is there any 
liope of rescuing him ? Is he worth it ? ” she said 
in indignation. Then pride came to her relief, and 
she said to herself, “ He has ignored me, now let him 
go his way.” 

Millicent appeared at the breakfast table in the 
morning at the usual hour. She was very pale and 
quiet and to her father she was formal and cold. 


154 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XIX. 

POOR LITTLE CHIRP.” 

I3IMEDIATELY after Mr. Hiton left, Leon’s conduc- 
tor turned to him and said, Are you ready ? ” 

Leon said, “ I am,” and the man said, ‘‘ Come along.” 

Leon found that his conductor was a man of few 
words ; he answered no questions except by saying, 
I don’t know,” or I have no authority to state.” 

After walking for some time they found themselves 
in a tenement district and his conductor led the way 
into one of the tenements. 

They walked up to the second story and the man 
knocked at a door which was opened by a care-worn 
looking woman. She looked at him inquiringly and 
then glanced at Leon. 

The conductor smiled and said: 

“ Mrs. W aldo, this is a new boarder ; he will work 
in the yard with your husband and the others.” 

The woman nodded to Leon and then the man, 
turning, said: 

‘^Hand this letter to the superintendent at the 
yard in the morning.” 

What yard ? ” asked Leon, and the conductor re- 
plied: 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


155 


‘‘ Mr. Waldo will tell you.’’ 

With that the man turned and walked down the 
stairs. 

Leon remarked to the woman that it was a pleas- 
ant day. 

Yes,” she replied in a weary voice; “jdeasant 
enough for those who can enjoy it.” Then she said: 
“ I will show you where you will sleep.” 

She led the way through a hall to a rear room 
with three beds in it. 

“ That’s your bed,” she said pointing to one. 

‘‘Will any one else sleep in the room?” Leon 
asked. 

She looked at him in surprise a moment and then 
answered : 

“ Certainly, — two others.” 

She left the room before Leon could offer an in- 
dignant protest which had sprung to his lips; he 
was about to call after her, but contented himself 
by muttering as he sat down on the side of his 
bed, 

“We will see about that.” He glanced around 
the room; everything was neat and clean. It was 
entirely destitute of ornaments, and had, besides 
three beds, two chairs and a washstand by way of 
furniture. The place looked so desolate that it made 
him feel very blue. 

Hearing a slight noise at the door, he looked up 
and saw a little girl of about nine years of age look- 


156 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


ing at him. Leon was pleased at the interruption 
and he called out, “ Hello ! who are you ? ” 

The little girl stood in the doorway as she an- 
swered: 

“ Gertie ; but they call me Chirp.” 

‘‘ Oh, well, come in.” 

The child paused and looked down. 

“ Come in, Chirp, won’t you; that’s a good girl.” 

She walked shyly into the room. Leon noticed 
that she was a pretty creature, but was very thin 
and her big brown eyes had a hungry look in them. 
She stared at and looked him over in a shrewd way 
before she said: 

‘‘Are you the new boarder ? ” 

Leon smiled as he replied: 

“ I guess I am.” 

She looked at him again, then nodded her head 
wisely as she said half to herself, 

“I guess I like you.” She jumped on the bed 
beside him, tucked her arm in his and pillowed her 
head against his shoulder. 

Leon was very much touched by this demonstra- 
tion of affection. His had been such a lonely life 
since he returned to Pactolus that he had commenced 
to feel that he was utterly alone — that there was no 
one to say a kind word to him or to show any inter- 
est in him. 

As he felt her arm in his and her head against his 
shoulder, his eyes filled with tears. They sat to- 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


157 


getlier for several minutes; she looking out of the 
window; he surreptitiously wiping his eyes. 

After a time he recovered control of his feelings, 
and he lifted her on to his lap. She was pleased and 
smiled as she said with a pout: “ I am not a baby,” 
but she nestled herself in his arms as if she were a 
baby. She gave a tired sigh. 

“Are you tired ? ” she said. 

“ No,” said Leon; “ are you ? ” 

“ I am almost always tired.” 

“ Nonsense,” said he; “ what makes you tired? ” 

“ I guess I don’t get enough sleep.” 

“Why not?” 

‘^It’s late when I get to bed, and then I have to 
get up real early in the morning.” 

“You shouldn’t play so much and then you 
wouldn’t be so tired,” said Leon as he patted her head. 

She raised herself and looked at him with reproach- 
ful, wondering eyes. 

“ Play ? ” she said; “ I don’t play, I work.” 

“Work ?” said Leon with an ill concealed smile. 
“ Do you work ? What work do you do ? ” 

“ I work in the straw-hat factory. Do you know 
Mrs. Perkins ? ” 

“No.” 

“ Well, she is a hard woman.” 

“A what ? ” said Leon trying to keep back a smile. 

“A hard woman; she bosses us girls in the fac- 
tory.” Tlien thoughtfully, “ perhaps she ain’t hard 


158 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


of herself; perhaps they make her. Do yon know, 
if yon are a tiny little minute late she fines you five 
cents. Isn’t that mean ? ” 

“Yes, ” said Leon, “very.” 

“ Yes, and you have got to get there at seven in 
the morning and I don’t get home till seven in the 
evening and I tell you I get awful tired.” 

“ Why don’t you go to bed when you get home ? ” 

“ Go to bed when I get home ? ” she asked con- 
temptuously, and at the same time giving a shrill 
little laugh. “And who would help get the dinner 
for the boarders when they get home ? ” 

“ Do you help ? ” said Leon. 

“ Of course I do,” she said ; “ and then when we get 
through washing the dishes and setting the table for 
the morning it is ten o’clock ; I go to sleep drying 
the dishes sometimes. I broke a plate that way 
once ; mean, wasn’t it ? ” 

“ Perhaps you couldn’t help it,” said Leon. 

“ I didn’t always have such a hard time of it,” said 
she in a sort of a dreamy way as she looked out of 
the window at the clouds, “ my sister used to help — 
she was older than me. Oh,” she said with a sigh, 
“ I had easy times then.” 

“ Where is she now ? ” asked Leon. 

“Dead ” 

“ Dead ? ” said Leon starting. 

“ Yes, she could not stand it. She had so little 
sleej) and the work was so hard and the dust in the 


THE KEIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


159 


factory made her cough and she coughed so hard 
that she had what they call hemorrhage and she 
was too weak to get over it so she died in three days 
— poor, poor Estelle.” 

Then there was a pause. Leon glanced down at 
his charge and saw the tears coursing down her 
cheeks. 

“ Poor child,” he said pressing her to him. 

“Oh, don’t mind me; I know I am foolish, but' 
sister was so kind to me.” 

Suddenly she started and jumped off his lap. 

“ I must go now and help mother,” she said as she 
wiped her eyes with her apron. Then she looked at 
Leon eagerly: 

“ Do I look as if I was crying ? ” 

“Well,” said Leon, “a little.” 

The child made a sort of a grimace which was in- 
tended for a smile. 

“ Do I now ? ” she said. 

Leon was obliged to admit that there were still 
some traces of weeping. The little creature then 
polished her face vigorously with her apron. 

“ There,” she said, “ I know how to fix it.” With 
that she started out of the room, whistling a lively 
tune. 

Leon looked after her with an amused smile; in a 
moment she was back. She stood in the doorway 
and raised her finger mysteriously: 

“ I forgot,” she said; “ don’t tell mamma.” 


160 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Don’t tell her what ? ” 

“ Don’t,” she said in an earnest whisper, ‘‘ don’t 
tell her I was tired and sleepy, because if you do, 
she won’t let me help her and then she will have all 
the work to do herself.” 

Then she put her hands on his shoulders and looked 
coaxingly in his eyes as she added: 

“You Avon’t, will you ?” 

“No,” he said. 

She patted him on the cheek and said: 

“ There’s a good fellow.” 

She started out of the room, but stopped at the 
threshold and faced him with an anxious expres- 
sion. 

“ Is the cry all gone ? ” she said. 

He looked at her critically as he replied: 

“ Yes.” 

“ Sure?” 

“ Sure.” 

“I guess I had better whistle and make sure;” 
and with that she walked out of the room whistling. 

A little after eight o’clock, Leon was summoned 
to dinner. There were four men besides Mr. and 
Mrs. Waldo and Chirp. 

Mr. AYaldo introduced Leon. Their nnmes were 
Johnson*, Martin, Converse and Reilly. Mr. Waldo 
was an intelligent man who had been in the hard- 
ware business several years before, and for a time 
was very successful. But shortly after the organiza- 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


161 


tion of the company, his business steadily declined. 
What little he had saved from the wreckage of his 
business was spent; he was now employed in one of 
the company’s brick yards as a day laborer. 

The other boarders were employed in the same 
place and with the same company. Johnson and 
Martin were young men, and had been clerks. Con- 
verse was at one time a builder. Reilly had always 
been a laborer. The clothing of all the men was 
red with the brick they handled. 

Leon’s dinner consisted of a liberal slice of corn 
meal cake fried in fat ; he also had a small piece of 
boiled iiork, together with a black fluid called coffee. 
Leon’s taste was shocked at the food placed be- 
fore him, but he was too polite to make any com- 
ment. 

There was little conversation during the meal. 
The men ate rapidly, then went down-stairs and sat 
on the door step in front of the house. 

After dinner Leon went out for a walk. When he 
returned he found the two young men fast asleep in 
his room; he went to bed and after a long period of 
tossing about, he fell asleep. It seemed to him only 
a few minutes had elapsed when he was awakened 
by Mr. AValdo who said, “ It is time to get up.” 

Leon arose and washed himself in the tin basin on 
the washstand, and made his toilet, such as it was, 
and went into the breakfast room. The other men 
had already eaten their breakfast; they nodded to 

II 


162 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


him in a depressing sort of way. Chirp was the only 
one who gave him a cheerful greeting. He was quite 
hungry, however, and ate a goodly portion of the 
fried cake and drank his coffee. He felt thoroughly 
humbled when Mrs. Waldo handed him a i)arcel and 
told him it was his lunch. 

The moment he had finished breakfast, Mr. Waldo 
said: 

Mr. Wilson, we will have to hurry, or we will be 
late.” 

Leon hardly recognized his new name and a 
strange feeling came over him as he heard it, but he 
arose and followed Mr. Waldo. 

They walked for nearly an hour before they came 
to an immense yard which they entered. Mr. Waldo 
introduced Leon to a man who appeared to be in 
charge and handed him the letter his conductor had 
left the day before. 

The overseer referred to a book for a moment, and 
then said, ‘‘ This is right.” 

Waldo turned and walked away; Leon was about 
to follow when the man said, ‘‘ Hold on, you ; wait 
until you are marked.” 

He rang a bell and in a few seconds a laborer came 
in. 

“ Number this man,” said the overseer. 

The laborer produced a pot of white paint and a 
stencil. 

“ What is the number ? ” he said. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


163 


The overseer again referred to his book and read as 
follows: 

K. P., 2847. 

Leon felt a strong inclination to resent this indig- 
nity. 

He flushed as he braced himself to say, I will not 
stand this,” but as he looked at the overseer and 
saw what a determined-looking fellow he was, and 
at the same time he noticed that everything was 
done in a matter-of-course and business-like way, he 
felt it was useless to resist; his courage died out and 
he submitted. 

The laborer stenciled the letters and figures on the 
breast of his coat, and then said, Now turn around.” 

Leon did so and the man placed the same marks 
on his left shoulder. When the marking was com- 
pleted, the overseer said, 

“ Take him to Ryan’s gang.” 

The man nodded to Leon as he said, Come 
on.” 

Leon followed him and after walking some distance 
through the yard around great stacks of bricks, they 
met a rather large man with a coarse red face. He 
carried in his hand a large whip or scorpion the end 
of which was ornamented with a tassel of twist-steel 
wire. 

He’s a new un,” said Leon’s guide. 

The large man looked at him for a moment as if 
taking his measure and then said, 


164 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


“ Go to work there ; ” and he pointed to a group 
of men unloading a stack of bricks. 

Leon joined the group and was pleased to see Mr. 
Waldo was among them. 

“ I am glad you are with me,’’ said AYaldo, “ for I 
can tell you what to do, if you need instruction.” 

AVhile talking AValdo kept at his work. 

“Am I to pile up these bricks ? ” asked Leon. 

“ Yes, go right to work or the overseer will be 
down on you.” 

Leon looked ruefully at his delicate, white hands. 
AValdo noticed him and said, 

“You need not look at your hands, they Avill be 
rough enough soon ; mine were once as white and 
shapely as yours.” 

Leon began his labor. 

At night when he reached home, he was very hun- 
gry and managed to eat a large meal for him, and, 
after a little chat with Chirp, went to bed. He felt 
that he had not sufficient rest in the morning when 
Mr. AValdo waked him. 

Mr. Waldo consoled him by saying, “That that is 
a common complaint, but it can’t be helped.” 

After a week had passed, he became in a measure 
used to his manner of life, and became social with 
the people in the house. The Holts lived in the 
same house, and he became acquainted with Ran- 
dolph Holt and Dr. Clark. He did not meet Maud 
Holt, she had disap]:>eared. He frequently spent his 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


165 


evenings with them, or in their rooms. Sometimes 
he would take Chirp out for a walk and was much 
amused at her shrewd remarks and the queer no- 
tions which seemed to pop out of her wise little 
head at all times. 

Coming home one evening, he met her in the hall- 
way on her way up-stairs. She had a weary look and 
seemed to have been crying. 

“ What’s the matter ? ” he said putting his arm 
around her. 

The child leaned wearily against him and he al- 
most lifted her off her feet as he helped her up-stairs 
into his room. 

“ What is the matter ? ” he repeated. 

‘‘Nothing,” she said, and she sank into a seat; 
“only I am tired — awful tired.” 

Leon lifted her bodily and laid her full length on 
his bed. 

“ What is the matter with that ? ” he said smiling. 
She smiled as she drew a long sigh as if satisfied. 

“Nothing is the matter with that,” she said; then 
she paused for a moment and she closed her eyes 
and added, “ ’cept I must help mamma, you know.” 

“Not for a few minutes,” said Leon, coaxingly. 

“ Oh, if I could only lie here and rest forever and 
ever, and never get up again, wouldn’t that be fun.” 

“ Great fun,” said Leon. 

“Ain’t resting nice ? ” she said in a half whisper. 

“ Hullo Regie, hullo Harry.” 


16G 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


These salutations were addressed to Leon’s rooiii- 
mates who at that moment came in. 

They both kissed her. 

Regie as she called Reginald, was a special friend 
of Chirp’s. He was a well-formed young man with 
a kindly face. He sat on the side of the bed and 
looked anxiously into Chirp’s face while she patted 
his head. 

“You don’t look well, Chirp,” he said. “What 
is the matter ? ” 

“ I’m only a little tired,” she said. 

Then she started. “ Oh, my goodness,” she said, 
“ I must go and help mamma.” 

She slid out of bed and when she reached the door 
she turned and shook her fist at the three young 
men. Then putting one finger on her lips, she 
pointed toward the kitchen where her mother was 
at work. Then with a sad attempt to smile cheer- 
fully, she blew a kiss to each of the young men and 
disappeared. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


167 


CHAPTER XX. 

LAW AS SHE IS ADMINISTERED. 

About one week after Leon’s visits to his office, 
Mr. Hiton, as he expressed it, “ Fired his first gun.” 
He cited Mr. Sinclair before the court to render an 
account of his management of the Pelon estate. 

Mr. Sinclair was simply astounded and could 
hardly express his feelings when he thought of the 
audacity of a lawyer taking a case against a member 
of the directory. It was without precedent. His 
indignation knew no bounds. He made up his mind 
not only to stamp out the whole proceeding, but to 
annihilate Hiton and to do so in the most summary 
manner. But when he read the papers which had 
been served on him a second time and had become 
more calm, he noticed that Hiton had considerable 
knowledge of his affairs, and he reasoned that he 
must have obtained the facts from some influential 
quarter. He made up his mind, however, to bully 
Hiton into dropping the case; failing in that, he 
would buy him off, and, failing in the latter, he de- 
termined to coerce the court. As the court was a 
creation of the directory, he did not anticipate any 
trouble in succeeding — if it was necessary to go that 
length. 


168 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


He called on Mr. Hiton, and, with a great show of 
anger, indignantly demanded if it was he who had 
dared to take proceedings against him. 

He found Mr. Hiton polite, imperturbable, and 
determined to proceed with the case and he left the 
office in a passion. The case was to come on in a 
few days. 

Some one suggested to Sinclair that it would be a 
good move to get possession of all the documents 
that Hiton had. He acted on the suggestion in- 
stantly and for that i)urpose he sent ten of his re- 
tainers armed with clubs and implements for forcing 
the door of Hiton’s office. They also had burglars’ 
tools which, in case of necessity, could be used in 
breaking open the safe. 

The men got to Hiton’s office about eleven at night 
and forced the outer door without difficulty. The 
janitor came running down stairs to ascertain the 
cause of the disturbance and was j)romptly knocked 
insensible and thrown into a corner. 

“ The Posse,” as Sinclair called it, jiroceeded up- 
stairs and without difficulty forced the door of Mr. 
Hiton’s office. No sooner were they inside the door- 
way, than the door was closed and each man felt a 
noose about his neck and a cold muzzle of a revolver 
I)laced against his face. 

‘‘Surrender!” came an order; and, at the same 
moment, the gas was lighted, revealing to the aston- 
ished house-breakers a room full of armed men. 


I’HE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS^. 


160 


The man who appeared to be in command, said with 
a grim smile, 

“Good evening, gentlemen. We are a reception 
committee to whom Mr. Hiton has delegated the 
duty of entertaining yon; but, don’t you think that 
robbing law offices is a most unprofitable business ? ” 
He then said to his men, “ Relieve these gentlemen 
of their arms and march them to the lock-up.” 

This was done without difficulty and inside of five 
moments all was quiet and the office was again dark. 

Mr. Hiton was well posted on the methods of the 
directory. 

He knew that Sinclair would not hesitate to com- 
mit burglary if necessary to get rid of any evidence 
which he suspected might be in Hiton’s possession 
and he prepared for the visit. 

Then Sinclair made a vigorous search for Leon. 
Spies were sent in all directions. Hiton as well as 
all his clerks were dogged day and night; many of 
his employees were approached with bribes; but 
Hiton, as a general thing, kej)t his own counsel and 
no one knew of Leon’s whereabouts with the exceis- 
tion of one trusted clerk. 

The ridiculous failure of Sinclair’s marauding 
party was very bad for him and his case. 

He had a number of enemies in the directory, and 
they made all manner of fun of him. Wherever he 
went he found people cracking jokes at his expense 
and this was emphasized by the fact — that the sole 


ITO 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


test of ability among members of the directory was 
success. Success atoned for every evil deed, every 
crime, every wrong. 

Right at the beginning of his contest Avith an at- 
torney he had miserably failed, and that, too, in a 
way which was inexcusable. 

The looting of the Felon estate became a general 
topic of conversation, gossip and scandal. 

The robbery of the estate was so complete, enor- 
mous and audacious, that it almost took people’s 
breath away when they heard of it ; and, when Sin- 
clair’s counsel came into court and asked for more 
time to prepare his answer, there was a feeling that 
the defence was weak, especially as it was known 
that Sinclair had sent for the judge who was to hear 
the preliminary motion in the case, and that the 
judge had not responded to his summons. This was 
ominous. 

It was a long time since a judge had refused to do 
the l)idding of a member of the directory, except 
when the dispute was between members. 

u must be some one backing young Felon,” 

said one member of the directory to another. 

“ I shouldn’t wonder if there is ; I wonder who it 
is,” asked the person addressed. 

“I hai^en’t the least idea; but it must be some 
pretty strong backing.” 

If the matter should be decided against Sinclair,” 
said another, “ it would destroy his influence.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


171 


Yes,” answered the first speaker, ‘‘and it is said 
that he used the money of the estate to buy his 
way into the directory; that that was his sole cap- 
ital.” 

A number of the directory friends of Sinclair went 
with him to see Judge Willow to induce him to re- 
voke his order requiring Sinclair to file a further 
account of his administration of the Pelon estate. 

The judge assumed a judicial air and told them, 
with considerable severity, that he would hear any 
motion they wished to make in open court. 

This astonished the directors beyond measure. 

“ Do you know who we are ? ” said one of the di- 
rectors. 

“ I do,” said the judge, “ and I intend to do my 
duty in this matter and do not intend to be influ- 
enced by any man great or small.” 

. “ Since when have you grown so virtuous that you 
ignore the requests of a director ? ” said the direc- 
tor with a sneer. 

The judge winced but simply said: “I will hear 
any motion you have to make in open court.” 

“ If we make a motion in open court, will it be 
granted? ” asked the director. 

“ It will,” said the judge, “ if the court deems it a 
proper one.” 

This was followed by a burst of profanity and a 
long parley in which promises and threats were alike 
unavailing. 


It2 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

“ What is the matter with the fool ? ” said Sin- 
clair to Director Willis. 

Got the big head,” was the rejdy of the director. 
‘‘ Or,” and he looked Sinclair squarely in the eye, 
“ he has received instructions.” 

‘‘ Do you think so ? ” asked Sinclair anxiously. 
“ From whom ? ” 

That we will have to find out,” said the director. 

^‘But we had better see what we can do with 
Judge Otis.” 

This they did and Judge Otis revoked the order 
of Judge Willow. 

That order blocked the proceedings in the case of 
Felon. 

This was an unprecedented conflict of authority, 
but Mark Hiton was not discouraged: Just what 

I want,” he said, and going into court he made a fu- 
rious attack on Judge Otis, procured another order 
from Judge Willow stronger than the first and at 
the same time vacating the order of Judge Otis. 

This order Sinclair refused to obey. 

Then an order was made to commit him for con- 
tempt of court. 

Then followed an appeal from this order and the 
appeal was successful. The Appellate Court decided 
that the directory could not be compelled to obey 
an order of any judge. 

The director must first be impeached. 

This was another victory for Sinclair. Thus Leon’s 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


173 


case was ended so far as the courts were con- 
cerned. 

Hiton said he was not disheartened, but laid his 
plans for impeachment proceedings. 

There was a great deal of wire-pulling and log- 
rolling, and to the surjirise of everybody charges 
were made by Director Mayhew and articles of 
impeachment were presented by Director Curtain, 
the chairman of a committee appointed to investi- 
gate. 

This startled Sinclair and he went to see if a com- 
2)romise could not be effected. 

Mr. Hiton looked him squarely in the eye as he 
said: “There are some jihases of villany which it 
would be a crime to compromise.” 

“Villany?” said Sinclair fiercely as he clinched 
his fist. 

“ I said villany, Mr. Sinclair,” said Hiton emphat- 
ically, “ and if you like it better I Avill say damnable 
villany.” 

Sinclair made an effort to control himself as he 
said: “You don’t seem to remember that I am a 
director.” 

“ Yes, I do,” said Hiton, “ but I Avon’t have to do 
so long! ” 

Then came a tremendous struggle to secure enough 
votes to carry or defeat the impeachment proceed- 
ings. 

One of the strangest things about the whole pro- 


174 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


ceeding was the fact that Hiton seemed to have a 
great deal of influence among the directors. 

They treated him with almost the same degree of 
deference as fellow-members of the board 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS, 


175 


CHAPTER XXL 

HOW A LITTLE GIRL DIED. 

One evening when Leon returned from work he 
saw Chirp leaning against the street door ; she was 
very pale ; she had a small parcel in her hand — some 
trifle which she had purchased at the store. 

“ W ell, Chirp, here you are again,” said Leon as 
he came behind her; he put his arm around her 
waist so as to support her up-stairs and he found 
she needed it. He almost carried her. 

At dinner she ate scarcely anything and as she 
arose from the table she said: '‘I feel so dizzy,” 
then sank to the floor. She tried to get up but she 
could not. 

‘‘ Isn’t it funny I can’t get up,” she said with a 
laugh which seemed all weighed down with tears. 

Her father caught her up in his arms saying: “ My 
poor child, you are ill.” 

Her head fell on his shoulder and she burst out 
crying. 

Don’t, don’t cry, my darling,” said he in a choked 
voice. 

He carried her to her bed. They all followed. 

‘‘There, now,” he said as he laid her down; “now 
you are all right.” 


176 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


‘‘ Wliat is it, pet ? ” lier motlier said as slie leaned 
over her. 

But the child continued to cry in a heart-breaking 
way. 

She tried to get iij) but fell back exhausted ; then 
her grief broke out afresh. 

“Now,” she said, “now there is no one to help 
mamma.” 

Leon and the others stood around the bed. 

“Yes, there is,” said Leon, “we will all help 
her.” 

“Will you?” she said tnroiigh her sobs. “AVill 
you ? ” 

“Yes,” said they in chorus. 

The little creature smiled through her tears, “ Oh, 
you are so— so good,” she said. 

Her eyes closed wearily and they left this brave 
little hero alone with her mother whom she had 
tried so hard to assist. 

The young men were as good as their word and 
they did in a clumsy way the house work, while Mr. 
AA'^aldo went for Dr. Clark whom be brought back 
with him. 

The doctor said she needed rest and strengthening 
food. 

He prescribed some simple remedies such as they 
could procure with their small means. 

The next evening when they returned from work, 
Chirp was still quite ill. Leon and Regi took turns 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

watching by her bedside while Mrs. Waldo took 
some needed rest. 

The following evening she was very weak and at 
times a little flighty. She smacked her lips from 
time to time. Suddenly she said : “ I thought I was 
eating grapes. Oh, wasn’t they nice! ” 

Then after a pause she said in a whisper, “ I wish 
I had some now,” then again, ‘‘No, I don’t; what 
would I do with grapes ? But if I was rich I’d have 
some; I’d have a whole lot.” 

“ Mamma,” she said, stroking her mother’s head, 
“ you think I want grapes, but I don’t.” 

“ I wonder if I could get her some ? ” said Leon. 

“ I am afraid not,” said her father in a hopeless 
voice. 

“ I will try,” said Leon. 

The mother gave him a grateful smile, and he went 
out. 

The child continued to talk in a queer way, but 
the craving for grapes was uppermost in her mind. 

Every few minutes she would realize the impossi- 
bility of getting grapes and would disclaim any de- 
sire for them. She seemed to be dying for want of 
a few grapes. 

Her father was in agony; he went outside and 
walked up and down the hall as if he were out of 
his mind. 

In an hour Leon returned. To her father’s eager 


12 


178 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


inquiring look lie replied by shaking his head 
sadly. 

Leon heard Chirp say as he stood in the hall, ‘‘ If 
I only had three grapes that would be enough — only 
three.. That ain’t much — only three grapes.” 

Regi came out of the room looking like a crazy 
man. He caught Leon by the arm. 

“ Did you get any ? ” 

No,” said Leon; there is not one to be had any- 
where ; people seemed to think I was crazy when I 
asked for them.” 

I know where there are grapes — plenty of them,” 
Regi said in a low voice, and I am going to get 
them.” 

‘‘ AVhere ? ” said the father. 

‘^At Camden’s greenhouses.” 

“No, no! you must not, it is death,’’ said the 
father detaining him. 

“ Hands off,” said Regi as he wrenched himself 
free and ran doivn the stairs. Leon followed, but 
he was out of sight before Leon got to the street 
door. 

“ Where is Camden’s greenhouse ? ” he asked Mr. 
Waldo who had joined him at the door. 

“ Why do you want to know ? ” The old man 
demanded. 

“ I want to go with Reginald.” 

“Well, I won’t tell you,” said Waldo in a deter- 
mined voice. “ It is enough for one man to risk his 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


1T9 


life — and besides one is as good as twenty ; there is 
less danger.” 

“ Why is it so dangerous ” asked Leon. 

‘‘Because it is the x3roj)erty of George Camden, 
and he is one of the most vindictive and cruet of all 
the directors. He has had children beaten almost 
to death for plucking a few flowers from his grounds. 
Night and day he has armed men patrolling his 
grounds, and I fear it is impossible for that poor boy 
to escape with his life if he ventures on the grounds, 
poor fellow.” 

They turned and went into the house and up" to 
the sick-room. 

Chirp Avas still talking and tossing on the bed. 
Dr. Clark was giving her a soothing drink, but every 
few minutes she would speak of grapes or peaches 
or some other fruit. 

She would suddenly realize that they were beyond 
her reach. Then she would say : “ Oh, I don’t want 

any, you know.” Then later, “ Grapes grow nice, 
don’t they ? All in bunches ? Oh, dear, I am such 
a bother, I am thirsty again.” 

Then when her mother gave her a drink she said, 
“ I’m an awful bother, ain’t I ? ” Her mother was 
obliged to turn away to hide her tears as she said, 
“No — no, you darling, you are not.” 

“ Oh, I am, I know I am— me talking about grapes, 
you would think I was a director. Oh, no, I don’t 
want any grapes. Don’t ever think tliat I want 


180 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

tliem, mamma,” and the sick child tried to laugh. 
It was such a weak little laugh that it went to the 
heart of every one present. 

Then she lay exhausted with a wistful look on her 
face. Her mother was stroking her head. 

“She is dying!” said her father in an agonized 
whisper to the doctor; “ can’t you save her ? ” 

“ I have done my utmost within my limited means,” 
said the doctor hopelessly. “ If she had a few grapes 

they would refresh and revive her, but ” 

“ I will go to the hot-house and beg some in the 
morning,” said her father. 

There was something in the doctor’s face which 
alarmed him. He caught the doctor by the arm. 

“ What! Won’t she live till morning ? ” 

“ I fear not,” the doctor said, looking toward the 
little head which was tossing on the pillow. 

“ She must, she will live ; she can’t die. I say she 
must not die ” 

The doctor put his hand over Mr. AValdo’s mouth 
and forced him from the room. 

“ Stop your noise,” he said in a stern whisper. 
“ Do you want to kill the child ? ” 

“ Oh, forgive me ! ” cried the father. “ I did not 
think what I was doing.” 

He tried to enter the room again, but the doctor 
stopped him. “Please let me in again. I won’t 
speak above a whisper. I won’t; I promise I will be 
quiet.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


181 


“Now, I Avarn you,” said the doctor, ‘Hhat the 
least noise may snap the thread that holds her life. 
Do you understand ? ” 

I do,” said the father, and he leaned against the 
door post as though his strength had deserted him. 

As they entered the room. Chirp’s eyes Avere closed. 
She smacked her li])s in a feeble sort of Avay as 
she said : 

I — I AAull liaA^e a great big bunch of grapes some 
day, AA'on’t I, mamma; a great big bunch of SAveet 
ones ? ” 

At that moment there Av^as a noise as of some one 
coming up-stairs. The sound approached nearer. 

It AA^as the sound of the steps of some one mount- 
ing the stairs rapidly; then footsteps Avere heard in 
the hall and Regi came panting into the room. He 
stepped quickly to the bed and placed three bunches 
of grapes on the coverlet in front of Chirp. 

The little creature opened her eyes and gave a 
scream of delight. 

Oh, oh, oh! ” she cried; ‘^grapes, grapes! ” 

With an effort she lifted the smallest bunch to 
her face. 

“ Don’t they smell SAA^eet ? ” she cried. 

Her mother put one to the child’s lips; she sucked 
it eagerly; another and another she ate until she 
had eaten half a dozen. She became animated and 
seemed to grow stronger. 

‘‘Hoav selfish I am,” she said, won’t you all have 


182 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


some ? ” Then to Regie, “ Oh, Regie, where did you 
get these ? You good, good fellow. Kiss me.” 

He knelt by the side of the bed and kissed her; 
she put her weak little hands on each side of his 
head and held it. 

Oh, you good, good fellow,” she said, “ where did 
you get them ” 

A step was heard outside. An officer walked into 
the room. He answered the question : 

“ Stand where you are,” he said. Mr. Camden’s 
hot-house has been broken into and fruit stolen. T 
saw the thief as he was escaping and have traced 
him to this house. I believe he is in this room.” 

While the man was speaking Chirp removed one 
hand from Regie’s head and instantly covered the 
grapes with a corner of the sheet. 

The officer paused as he looked around at the 
dumbfounded group. 

‘‘ Which is the thief ? ” he said. 

No one spoke; no one moved. 

Then the officer spoke again: ‘AVell, if you will 
not point out the thief, I must arrest you all and 
’the judge will find a way of getting him.” 

Regie made a motion as if to rise, but the little 
hand on his head, almost weightless and strengthless 
as it was, held him down as though its power was 
irresistible. 

The officer’s eyes wandered over the group until 
they fell on Chirp. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


183 


The poor little pinched pale face was very pale. 
That had no effect on the officer, for he was used to 
seeing pinched, pale faces every day, but the great 
black eyes of the dying child had a wistful, plead- 
ing look which fairly glowed. 

He was fascinated by it; he could not remove his 
eyes. He was almost frightened. It seemed super- 
natural. 

The little creature raised her hand as if to stay 
the officer; her lips moved once or twice as if trying 
to speak. Then with a great effort she said, speak- 
ing very slowly and laboriously, Mr. Officer, please 
don’t arrest anybody. I am a very sick girl and 
very naughty. I — I wanted some grapes. Oh, I 
wanted them so bad. I couldn’t help it, Mr. Officer, 
I really couldn’t. I know it’s wrong, but I did try 
not to talk about them, but my mouth wanted them 
so much and I couldn’t help it — I truly couldn’t.” 

‘'And Re ” she nearly said Regie, but she 

stopped with an alarmed look, then said — “ I mean 
somebody got me some grapes.” 

Her eyes filled with tears as she burst out with 
childish grief, It’s too late now, I — I can’t eat them.” 

She raised her hand slowly to her face and wiped 
away the tears, then her face and eyes again assumed 
their eager pleading look as she said: 

I am the thief, Mr. Officer, arrest me. I am the 
one the grapes were stolen for, take me — don’t arrest 
anybody else. I am a poor sick little girl ; I can’t 


184 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


work any more. I am no use, i)lease arrest me ; don’t 
arrest the others ’cause I’m the one you want.” 

Her voice had grown weaker and weaker until it 
had tapered off into a whisper; her eyes closed and 
she lay exhausted. 

Every one in the room was crying and the tea is 
were rolling down the officer’s cheeks. He dashed 
them away as he said in a voice broken with emo- 
tion: 

— I think I’ve made a mistake — perhaps the 
man who took the grapes — is — somewhere else. If 
I find him I will have to arrest him.” This was said 
to those standing around the bed. He added, “ If 
you see him — God bless him,” in a low tone, then 
aloud, “bring him to the station. Good-by, little 
^ one,” he said to Chirp. “ You are a brave little girl ; 
get well as quick as you can and if ever you want 
grapes again, come to me and I will give you all you 
can carry.” 

He kissed her on the forehead and marched out 
of the room. 

Chirp closed her eyes with a satisfied sigh; she 
moved slightly once or twice; she slowly lifted her 
eyelids as if they were very heavy — too heavy for 
her to hold them open; they closed again. She 
smiled and her lips moved. 

“ What is it, darling ? ” said her mother, bending 
over her; “ what did you say, darling ? ” 

Tlie little face was now radiant with haj^piness as 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


185 


a whisper came to her mother’s ear like the coo of 
a dove. 

‘‘ I’m having a beautiful rest.” 

The heavy eyelids opened again and the big eyes 
rolled around the room until they had rested on 
every one present. Then the lids fell together again. 

There was another sigh — the little hand slipi)ed 
from Regie’s head — a slight quiver of the body and 
this jDoor little slave was taken from the toil and 
sorrow of this sad world. 

The doctor started forward, felt her pulse, bent 
over her and listened for her heart-beat. He arose 
and turning away buried his face in his hands. 

The little heroine was dead. 


186 


THE BEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XXIL 

LEON BECOMES AN OUTLAW. 

After the death of Chirp, Leon was utterly pros- 
trated ; he could hardly realize that she was dead ; 
he could not understand that he was never to see 
her again ; he did not know she had taken such a 
deep root in his affections and could not understand 
how she could die. Parting with her seemed like 
tearing off a limb ; he had never in all his seltish life 
of self-indolence known what it was to suffer a loss 
the annoyance of which lasted over night. 

But the taking away of this sweet little child cast 
a deep gloom over his life; he felt as though the 
sun was buried in black clouds ; in an unreasoning 
way, he was inclined to blame everybody for her 
death — her father, her mother, and even the doctor. 

While in his gloomiest mood lie met the doctor 
and accosting him in a brusk manner, said : 

Yours is a fine profession that couldn’t save the 
life of a child like Chirp.” Then he added bitterly, 
‘‘ you are all humbugs and quacks.” 

The doctor bit his lips to keep back an angry re- 
tort, but he answered in a mild tone : Poor Chirp 
was a sensitive child with a vast amount of nervous 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


187 


energy, but slie liad no real strength. Under other 
conditions she would have grown up a strong, healthy 
girl, but she died of over-work; in fact she was tired 
out, she was exhausted because, like thousands of 
other children, she was put to work before she was 
able to perform it properly.” 

Leon could not answer the doctor further than 
to admit the force of his remarks. A little reflec- 
tion showed him that as the family was circum- 
stanced it was necessary for every member to work 
to keep a roof over their head and to supply food. 

The father was beyond middle life and almost 
worn out with hard work and exposure; his pay 
was very small and although he struggled desjier- 
ately to do as much work as other men, he felt that 
he was baffled by his weight of years. 

The company graded the men according to their 
years and their ability to work. There was a boy’s 
yard, a young men’s yard, a middle aged men’s yard 
and an old men’s yard. There was also what was 
known as a workhouse where incompetent old men 
and women were put when unable to support them- 
selves. This was the dread of the aged, as it was 
well known that privation, starvation, neglect and 
cruelty was the dot of the unfortunates who were 
committed to this asylum. 

To keep out of this place as long as possible (for 
no one could hope to escape it) was the ambition of 
men and women as they neared the middle age. 


188 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Mr. Waldo struggled manfully; his sight, hearing 
and strength were impaired, but he strove by every 
art to conceal the effect of advancing years. It was 
j)itiable to see him try to keep up with the young 
men when strength or agility became necessary. 
Oftentimes in his efforts to move quickly, his move- 
ments were so grotesque as to cause his companions 
and even the overseers to smile, especially as his 
comical movements were accompanied by the utmost 
gravity and anxiety of countenance. When an order 
was given, if he did not hear it perfectly he would 
watch and follow his neighbor’s example and gen- 
erally with the awkwardness of imitation. Some- 
times the men laughed at him ; sometimes in pity 
they helped him out; he was the oldest man in his 
gang, and to their credit be it said, to most of the 
men the sight of this old man trying to light off and 
hide the effects of advancing years was an inexpres- 
sibly sad one. It was a sight which impressed the 
beholders as partaking largely of the elements 
which make heroes. 

In spite of his failing faculties, the old man had 
fought on, holding his own when younger and 
stronger men were forced into the old man’s gang 
(for the labor and x)rivation wore men out quickly). 

But now poor Cliiiqi seemed to have taken with 
her to her grave all of her father’s energy and ambi- 
tion. Leon was obliged to urge him to go to work. 

What is the use ? ” he said in rejdy to Leon’s urg 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


189 


ing; “it is work, work, work and nothing for it, — 
nothing — nothing,” and the old man shook his head 
in a hopeless way. 

“ But your wife must be considered,” said Leon. 

“Yes, I must work for her; she has worked by 
my side steadily and faithfully for twenty-five years 
and I must work for her and I must live for her 
sake.” 

He did go to work, but he was in no condition for 
labor. He was spoken to more than once by the 
overseer for stopping work and gazing about him 
in an . absent-minded way. One evening about six 
o’clock he stopped work and stood gazing into va- 
cancy. The overseer (a brutal fellow) struck him 
with his scorpion. It was a vicious blow and the 
old man fell to the ground with a piteous groan. 

“ Get up, you lazy brute,” said the overseer, and 
at the same time he plied his scorpion about the old 
man’s head and shoulders; the old man tried to 
shield his face and eyes by covering them with his 
arms and hands, but the blows came thick and fast 
and cut him terribly. 

Leon was working close by. He stood for a mo- 
ment irresolute. He well knew that to interfere in 
what was called the discipline of the yard, would 
bring upon him the severest j)unishnient; but as the 
lash fell, cutting in such a cruel manner the head, 
face and hands of the old man, he forgot everything 
else in liis indignation and sprang forward crying: 


190 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


You are a coward to strike that old man.” 

He snatched the scorpion from the overseers hand 
and knocked him down ; then he lashed him vigor- 
ously. 

‘‘Take that! you scoundrel! you coward! you 
brute ! ” he cried, while the overseer struggled to 
get away, but Leon followed him up and lashed him 
until the fellow’s face and hands were covered with 
blood and his clothes were cut to ribbons. 

Several of the workmen witnessed the scene. 
They were awed by Leon’s temerity; they neither 
helped nor hindered him — they simply looked on 
with horror; they thought of him as a man who had 
virtually committed suicide; they believed nothing 
could save him from the awful penalty visited on 
those who struck their overseers. 

As he paused for breath, one of the men brushed 
by him and said, “ Run for your life. The other 
overseers will be here in a moment — quick, go ! ” 

“ What is this ? ” cried a voice as two of the over- 
seers came running towards Leon. 

They were within about twenty -five feet of where 
he was standing — “Go! run!” said several of the 
men in a whisper. Leon saw his danger and turning, 
ran down one of the alleys of brick. The bricks 
were heaped up in such a way as to leave lanes and 
alleys of different widths. 

As Leon turned to run, one of the overseers cried, 
“ Halt!” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


191 


Leon paid no attention to the command. Then 
the overseer blew a signal whistle; this was followed 
by whistles from half a dozen different directions. 

As Leon ran, a number of the laborers followed 
him and kept between him and his pursuers. At the 
first cross alley another overseer joined in the chase, 
then another and another, until there were at least 
ten in pursuit. 

It was almost dark now, but as Leon turned into 
a side, alley he saw one of the overseers standing di- 
rectly in his path. 

Halt! ” called the overseer as Leon came in sight. 
The only response was a brick which came flying 
over Leon’s head and struck the overseer in the 
chest; he sank down in a heap. 

In a moment Leon and the crowd were trampling 
over him. Another overseer dashed out of one of 
the cross alleys. He was fresh and ran like a deer. 
He was gaining rapidly on Leon when the laborer 
just in front of him intentionally tripped and fell; 
the overseer fell headlong over him. This gave Leon 
a little advantage. 

It had grown almost dark now and Leon was be- 
ginning to feel exhausted. He was about to stop 
when one of the laborers just behind him said in a 
low tone, turn to the left at the next alley and 
we will lead them straight on. Do you understand ? 
To the left.” 

Yes,” panted Leon, “ where then ?” 


192 


THE KEION OF SELFISHNESS. 


Over the low wall to the street and then cross 
the river,” said the laborer. 

Then he added in a whisper, when they had gone 
a little farther, Turn here, turn down here. Don’t 
let them hear you. Now! quick! go! ” 

Leon turned down a dark alley and as he ran he 
heard the crowd running up the alley he had just 
left. 

After running for about three minutes he came 
to a low wall. He climbed over and found himself 
in the street. He looked up and down, but could 
see nothing, so after a moment’s consideration he 
turned to the left and tumbling about in the dark- 
ness for some minutes, he saw the glimmering of the 
waves of the river, and in a few seconds he found 
himself on one of the city docks. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS* 


193 


CHAPTER XXIIL 

AFRAID OF Ills FELLOW-MEN. 

Leon knew he dare not stay in the city, so he set 
about devising some means of crossing the river. 
He could hear the shouting and whistling of his pur- 
suers in the distance. Well he knew it would not 
be long before the hoard of overseers would be 
swarming out into the street after him like a pack 
of bloodhounds. 

Panting as he was, he peered cautiously over into 
the river to see if he could not find a boat with 
which he might ferry himself over to the other shore. 
To his delight he saw at the end of the dock a small 
boat. He started towards it and was stepping over 
the string piece of the dock to drop into it, when he 
felt a hand grip his collar; in a moment he was 
pulled back on to the pier. 

“ Who are, and where are you going ? ” were the 
words which saluted Leon’s ears. The poor fellow 
gave himself up for lost. He didn’t answer, because 
he could not; the grip on his collar almost choked 
him and he was exerting all his faculties to get into 
a position where he could breathe and at the same 
time see who had hold of him. 

13 


194 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


When a man gets a grij) on the collar of another, 
he has an extraordinary advantage; the person who 
is collared is utterly helpless. It is annoying — it is 
irritating — it is painful and humiliating; with a grip 
upon his collar a man feels as though he were in a 
pillory, the person having the grip has complete 
mastery over him and can turn or twist him at will, 
while the victim helplessly beats the air. Such was 
Leon’s position. 

He gasped and struggled as he tried to free his 
throat and turn his head to see his captor. Greatly 
to his surprise, after a moment’s struggle, he felt 
himself released and whirled round and brought face 
to face with a man of massive proportions. 

Well,” said the man, in a mighty voice, “who 
are you and where are you going ? ” 

Leon made an effort to recover his breath; then 
he said in an agitated voice, “ I — I want to cross the 
river.” 

“What for?” 

“ I want to visit some friends in Ocio.” 

“ Who are they ? ” 

Leon did not answer. 

“ Who are you ? ” 

Leon did not answer. 

“ Where are you from ? ” 

Leon knew now that he could not escape by de- 
ception, so he determined to tell the stranger all and 
appeal to him for mercy. This was his only hope, 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


195 


and there, in the darkness by the river side he told 
his captor of the death of Chirp and its sad effect on 
her father, of the brutality of the keejjer and of his 
defence of the old man ; of his escape. “And now,” 
he said as he finished his story, “ I suppose you will 
give me up and I will be condemned to death.” 

The man looked keenly at Leon for a moment and 
said: 

“ What were you going to do over the river ? ” 

“ I had no plans except to escape,” said Leon. 

“ If they see you wandering there they will bring 
you back.” 

“ I don’t know what to do,” said Leon ; “ I suppose 
I must give myself up.” 

“ I suppose you must ” here the man paused, 

“ but it seems hard, everything is hard though,” he 
addled ; then he looked into Leon’s face sharply. 

“Tell me,” he said, “did any one see you come 
here ? ” 

No.” 

“Are you sure ? ” 

“ Yes, certain.” 

A faint hope came into Leon’s heart and warmed 
it as he cried out: 

“ Y ou don’t want to give a fellow up, do you ? 
You don’t want to see me killed. I never did you 
any harm and I never did any one harm. I want 
to live, I don’t want to be put to death. AYon’t you 
help me to escape ? ” 


196 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


As lie said this, Leon stretched out his hands im* 
ploringly. 

“ If I help you to escape, it would be death to me 
if it was found out,”, said the man. 

Leon gave a groan. 

The man said to himself: ‘‘I am not a blood- 
hound.” Then he added suddenly as he faced Leon, 

Say, young man, there is a skiff at the third pier 
from this and a pair of oars under the pier,” he 
paused — then he continued, “about seventy miles 
down the coast there is a sort of station where smug- 
glers land. If I were going to that station I would 
travel inland for a short distance and then go south. 
I would not travel near the shore until I got a good 
distance south; it is dangerous. I would not travel 
in the daytime until I got a good way from the city; 
that is dangerous.” 

Leon burst out with a profusion of thanks. 

“ Stop that! ” said the man. “ I have got to go to 
the other side of this pier; when I come back I will 
take you to the lock-up.” 

Leon looked at him inquiringly. 

The man turned to go — paused for a second, faced 
Leon again as he said in a voice so savage that it 
made Leon tremble, 

“Do you understand?” And 'turning on his heel 
he walked away. 

Leon looked at him a moment and then said fer- 
vently : 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. l9^ 

God bless you.” He tlien ran down the dock as 
fast as he could. 

Fortunately he did not meet anybody else and he 
had very little difficulty in finding the skiff and the 
oars. 

Both the skiff and the oars were pretty well worn 
out, but he managed to row himself across the river; 
he was very careful to avoid people as he landed. 
Luckily he had a few cents in his pocket, so he went 
into a little store on the outskirts of the city and 
bought some crackers. 

He imagined that the woman wno served him 
looked at him suspiciously and he made up his mind 
that he must avoid observation. 

Leaving the city he struck across the meadows. 
It was a very chilly autumn evening and as he was 
poorly clad, the wind whistled around him in a way 
that made him shiver. He struck up a pretty rapid 
gait and travelled all night. 

It was a hard, dreary walk, and nothing but the 
dread of capture kept him moving. How the poor 
fellow yearned for a place to lay his head and a 
hearth to warm himself by as he stumbled along. 

As he passed farm-house after farm-house, and 
saw the lights in the windows, he could not help 
envying the people inside. 

Once as he crossed a road where the wind whistled 
round him and chilled him through, he felt that he 
must give up, and he went up to a window of a farm 


198 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


house and looked in. There was a great, big fire 
blazing on the hearth and the family were at supper. 
Everything looked warm and comfortable to the 
famished boy. The sight almost maddened him and 
he was about to knock on the door when he heard a 
dog give a fierce growl. This brought him to his 
senses and he continued on until dawn. Then he 
became anxious to get under cover, and he began to 
look around for a place to hide. He saw a barn 
which looked inviting, but as he approached it a dog 
began to bark and he fled precipitately. 

At a short distance beyond he saw another out- 
building, but there was nothing in it but some farm 
implements and he feared that the agriculturists 
would come for them and discover him. Going out, 
to his horror, he saw a man approaching; he had 
never before in his life thought he could have such a 
feeling of fear come over him at the sight of a human 
being. Then it was that he felt he was an outcast — 
a creature whom every one was bound to pursue to 
his death. He felt that his most deadly enemies 
were his fellow-men and that he must avoid them 
as he would a noisome pestilence. Then there came 
over him a feeling of desolation and loneliness which 
almost made him lose his senses and he experi- 
enced a horrible sinking at heart which made him 
ill. He gazed at the man with a sort of fascination 
and horror ; the man as yet was a long distance away, 
but was approaching. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


199 


Leon dropped on all fours to avoid observation. 

“ Where can I hide ? ” he cried in agony. He 
looked around in .various directions and his eye fell 
on a haystack some distance off in the rear of the 
out-building. He crept to its far side and then pro- 
ceeded to burrow his way into it. This was not an 
easy task, but fear lent him energy and he worked 
vigorously until he finally succeeded in getting com- 
pletely under cover. 

He managed to work himself into such a position 
that he could look out over the field. He was very 
hungry and happily he had a few crackers left. 
He ate them; they left his throat parched and 
dry. He would have given almost anything for a 
drink. 

He was tantalized by seeing a brook trickling by 
his hiding place scarce ten feet away. He lay thus, 
suffering from thirst until he could stand it no 
longer; then carefully looking around he crept out 
and kneeling down by the stream, took a good, long 
draught. 

After going back into the haystack, he felt so 
drowsy from his long tramp that he fell into an un- 
easy sleep. When he awoke it was quite dark. He 
left his shelter, feeling very stiff and sore and re- 
sumed his journey. 

After a while the exercise brought his blood into 
circulation, enabling him to move more freely. He 
was very hungry, but he walked as well as he could 


200 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


all through the night — once in a while stumbling 
and falling from sheer weariness. 

AVhen morning broke he hid under another hay- 
stack; his stomach was clamorous, but after a time 
weariness overcame him and he again fell into an 
uneasy sleep. 

At about noon he was awakened by the sound of 
voices. Peering through the side of the haystack, 
he saw three men sitting on the ground. They were 
evidently laborers who were eating their dinner. 

Poor Leon’s hunger seemed to increase tenfold as 
he saw them swallow mouthful after mouthful. He 
felt an insane desire to go out and beg for some food. 
His hunger was so fierce that he determined to risk 
being arrested and was working his way out Avhen 
he heard three sharp whistles. They were the over- 
seer’s signals. He knew them well and he shuddered 
as he heard them. He almost felt the dreadful scor- 
pion about his shoulders, and he lay still almost 
holding his breath. 

The men sprang to their feet and scurried away to 
their work in an adjoining field. To Leon’s delight 
they left some food behind them ; it was only three 
or four fragments of fried corn meal, but he almost 
laughed for joy as he saw it. He looked carefully 
around and seeing that the coast was clear, he was 
again working out of the haystack when he saw two 
large dogs running about in the field. 

This was a new jjeril and Leon shrank back. The 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


201 


dogs were evidently playing — they chased each other 
up and down and around the field ; suddenly one of 
them started at full speed toward Leon’s jilace of 
shelter; the other dog followed. They passed Leon’s 
hiding place like a shot, but in a moment they came 
running back and right up to the place where the 
men had left the food. 

They swallowed it in a moment and looked around 
for more ; then to Leon’s horror they began sniffing 
around his hiding place; he almost gave himself up 
for lost, for at the same moment he saw a fierce-look- 
ing overseer walking across the field swinging his 
scorpion in his hand; happily for Leon he was going 
in an opposite direction from his hiding place, 
but turning and seeing the dogs he called to them. 
They were well-trained brutes and responded to his 
call on the instant. 

Poor Leon did not know what to do ; he was suf- 
fering most horribly from hunger, and as he lay in 
his hiding place the rest of the day, he made up his 
mind that he would take desperate chances to get a 
mouthful of food. 


202 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

“l ONLY WANTED SOMETHING TO EAT.” 

It was the custom among the directors of the com- 
pany to have numerous rural cottages and villas. 
Some had half a dozen, others had more, scattered 
about the country. 

They were always located in the most beautiful 
sections and had the most charming surroundings. 

About sixty miles from Pactolus, General Sinclair 
had one of those beautiful summer cottages and in 
this most delightful place he had installed Lizzie for 
a portion of the summer and fall. Lizzie was as 
pretty and fascinating as ever. 

A number of the general’s friends were spending 
a few of the autumnal days at this cottage and Lizzie 
presided with the grace of a duchess, as some of the 
guests observed. 

One morning important business called the gen- 
eral to the city and the task of entertaining the 
guests fell entirely upon Lizzie. 

The Indian summer had just set in, and as usual 
the weather was charming. Lizzie promised the 
guests a novelty in the way of lunch and she set to 
work with a will to fulfil her promise. She insisted 
on being allowed to carry out her idea unaided. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


203 


There was a grove to the left of the house and 
here she proposed to have what she called an open- 
air autumnal lunch. Tables were carried out and all 
sorts of delicacies heajied upon them. 

Lizzie in a dazzling fall costume was beautifying 
the tables with autumn leaves. She looked the em- 
bodiment of happiness as she moved about humming 
a tune and giving coquettish touches to this or that 
part of the tables. 

The servants had gone to the house and she was 
alone, when suddenly she heard a noise almost be- 
side her; she turned and saw a most horrible-look- 
ing object. A pale, gaunt man, with fierce, gleam- 
ing eyes stood beside her. He had a cloth tied round 
his head and his clothes were in rags. 

The poor girl shuddered with horror as she saw 
him. 

“I want something to eat!” he said in a hoarse 
voice, and he dashed to the table and seized a bird. 

Lizzie screamed with terror. One of the guests 
who happened to be close at hand, rushed up just 
in time to catch the fellow by the throat and hurl 
him to the ground. 

This guest was a gallant man and was pleased to 
have an opportunity of rescuing the beautiful girl 
from the horrible monster, and he proceeded to lash 
the prostra‘te man in the most gallant manner. Two 
other gallant men joined him almost instantly and 
they assisted him in the fierce onslaught. 


204 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


It did not seem to make any difference to these 
heroes that the creature they were cutting with their 
scorpions was a physical wreck, was lying helpless 
on the ground and that he was incapable of resist- 
ance or harm. That fact seemed to lend them 
courage. 

These men would doubtless have beaten the poor 
wretch to death had not Lizzie recovered from her 
fright, and comprehending the needless brutality of 
her champions’ conduct rushed forward, crying: 

Stop ! aren’t you ashamed of yourselves to beat 
a poor wretch when he is helpless ? ” 

They paused abashed, while Lizzie stooped over 
the now insensible man. 

Give me some wine,” she said. 

They handed a glass of wine to her and she forced 
a spoonful of it into the mouth of the insensible 
man. 

Leon (for it was he) gave a groan as he recovered 
consciousness. As he opened his eyes they lighted 
on the beautiful woman who was kneeling beside him. 

He muttered something in a feeble way as his 
eyes closed again. 

What is it ? ” said Lizzie, whose timidity had 
vanished ; ‘‘ what did you say ? ” 

The poor fellow again languidly opened his eyes, 
as he said, 

I — I only wanted something to eat. I — couldn’t 
hurt you.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


205 


Poor fellow,” said Lizzie. 

“ Don’t — please don’t — don’t let them — beat me; ” 
and he looked imploringly at her. 

Lizzie’s eyes filled with tears. 

Don’t be afraid ; no one shall touch you and you 
shall have all you want to eat. Here, John,” she 
said to a servant, ‘‘ lielj^ him into the house and see 
that he has everything he wants.” 

Leon was so weak that he had to be carried into 
the house. After he had gone, one of the guests 
said to Lizzie: 

‘‘How you have done a very foolish thing; this 
man may be a fugitive laborer or a criminal and it is 
dangerous to harbor him.” 

“ I don’t care what he is,” said Lizzie, “ he is a man 
too weak to defend himself and unable to take care 
of himself, and I shall succor him to the best of my 
ability.” 

The guest gave up further discussion of the mat- 
ter and the whole party sat down and made merry 
over tlieir lunch. 

Poor Leon needed more than food and drink; he 
needed a doctor’s care. That night he was delirious. 
He was installed in one of the small houses which 
were occui^ied by the servants and received every 
attention. 

It was more than three weeks before he could sit 
up. He then told Lizzie of his escape from the 
brick yard ; he wanted to tell the history of his life. 


206 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


but incidentally lie learned that he was on his guar- 
dian’s premises and he wisely refrained. 

Lizzie said that she would see that he was not 
punished for his overt act in the brick yard and of- 
fered to send him elsewhere if he wished. She said 
she would send him either south or west if he de- 
sired, but the pleasant w^ay in wLich he had been 
living while in Lizzie’s care revived within him a de- 
sire to get back his property and for that purpose 
he knew he must be in the city near his lawyer and 
so he said he would go back to Pactolus. 

When Sinclair heard that Lizzie was nursing a 
laborer he simply gave a helpless shrug of his shoul- 
ders and said: 

It is like her,” and when she asked him for an 
order remitting any punishment Leon was liable to 
suffer, he signed the order with the remark that she 
would demoralize the whole labor force in one week 
if she had her way. 

The next week Leon was back in the city, but was 
placed in another brick yard. 

Shortly after that he learned that poor old Mr. 
Waldo had been sent to the workhouse. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


207 


CHAPTER XXV. 

THE BUILDING OF SINCLAIR’S PALACE. 

There was one episode in Leon's servitude (for it 
was nothing else) which was as bitter an experience 
as ever falls to the lot of man. 

General Sinclair was building a house or rather a 
palace, which was to be the handsomest of all the 
grand houses in the city. It had been progressing 
rather slowly and he had grown impatient. Put 
on more men,” he said to the suiDerintendent. 

Where will I get them ? ” the superintendent 
asked. 

Draw them from the public works and from the 
brick yards and see that you draw enough men to 
rush the building through.” 

The superintendent followed the general’s direc* 
tions and the working force was largely augmented. 

Among those drafted to assist in the work was 
Leon, and, much to his disgust, he was assigned the 
task of carrying mortar in a hod. That he did not 
like the work it is needless to say, but from his ex- 
perience in the brick yard, he concluded that it was 
wise not even to demur; still he would often gnash 
his teeth as he thought of the life of luxury which 


208 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


had been liis and compared it with his present hard 
lot. 

Sometimes he thought of Millicent and wondered if 
she ever thought of him. Sometimes he thought 
she was heartless not to seek him out or intercede 
for him. Sometimes he would cry out in agony: 

‘‘If Millicent could see me now, she would pity 
me; ” but as day by day of monotonous toil passed 
he almost ceased to think of her, and, like the rest of 
the laborers, thought only how he could secure as 
much food and rest as possible. 

One warm morning in the early sirring. General 
Sinclair said to Millicent, “ How would you like to 
go with me to see our new house ? ” 

“I should be delighted,” said Millicent; ‘^can I 
take Grace with me ? ” 

“Yes,” said the general; “certainly.” 

When will you go ? ” said Millicent. 

“ This afternoon if you like,” said her father; “ call 
for me at the directory office and we will drive 
over.” 

That afternoon the mechanics and laborers were 
surprised at the unusual sight of two beautiful 
ladies with the general inspecting the building. The 
party were clad in the freshest, coolest and jii’ettiest 
of spring raiment. Their clothing stood out in beau- 
tiful contrast to the rusty, toil-stained garments of 
the workmen. 

As the party were standing at one of the towers 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 209 

a string of laborers carrying hods of mortar on their 
shoulders came round the corner. 

Leon, almost exhausted with the work and heat, 
was third in the line and as he turned the corner his 
eye fell on the group and centred on Millicent. Her 
eyes met his at the same instant. Leon’s heart leaped 
in a way that almost suffocated him ; his strength 
left him in a moment and the hod of mortar fell 
from his shoulder. As it fell the contents were 
splashed on the clothing of the general and the 
young ladies. 

Grace jumped back quickly, but Millicent stood 
transfixed, and as the general pulled her back she 
staggered and would have fallen had he not caught 
her in his arms. She quickly recovered, however, 
and gazed at Leon in a puzzled, dazed sort of way. 

“ Clumsy brute,” shouted Sinclair, then turning to 
the overseer, he said: “String him up and tear the 
stupidity out of him.” 

“ No, no, pa, don’t whip him, he couldn’t help it,” 
cried Millicent. 

“ String him up and thrash him ! Where are the 
overseers ? ” (looking round in a rage) “ Where are 
they ? Tliey can never be found when they are 
wanted.” 

Two overseers came breaking through the crowd 
of laborers who surrounded the party. They plied 
their scorpions right and left and the laborers scat- 
tered like leaves. 

14 


210 


THEl REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


String that fellow iip and thrash the stupidity 
out of him,” shouted the general. 

“No, pa; no, don’t,” pleaded Millicent. 

Her father made an impatient gesture to the over- 
seers, and in a moment Leon’s hands were fastened 
together at the wrist, the ends of the cords were 
fastened over a piece of the scaffolding and Leon 
stood helpless with his back to the party. 

One of the overseers tore the clothing off his back 
and prepared to strike. 

“ Pa,” cried Millicent, “ don’t! ” 

“ Be quiet, Millicent,” said her father through his 
clinched teeth and at the same time he seized her 
wrist. 

Then the lash came down on Leon’s back, leaving 
a livid mark the shape of a comet. 

Leon gave a gasp of pain. 

“ Stop! ” screamed Millicent. “ Stop! ” she broke 
from her father and threw her arms on Leon’s shoul- 
ders covering his back with her own body, at the 
same instant down came the lash on the girl’s shoul- 
ders. The dress she wore was of a thin, transparent 
material, and a red mark left by the blow was visible 
on her shoulder. She shuddered and writhed, but 
uttered no sound. 

The overseers paused horrified; they looked at 
Sinclair; he was white with rage. 

“Go on,” he shouted, “go on! strike, I say! ” 

The overseer again brought the lash down on the 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


211 


girrs shoulders, — again the girl writhed and shud- 
dered, but uttered no other sound. 

To what length Sinclair would have gone it is im- 
possible to say, had not Grace, who was so astonished 
as scarcely to be able to move, recovered sufficiently 
to comprehend what was going on. She gave a 
scream when she saw the blood streaming down Mil- 
licent’s back, and rushed at Sinclair, crying, Stop — 
stop — you brute! you coward! you wretch! you 
shall pay for this outrage.” This brought Sinclair 
to his senses like the tap of a drum. 

“ Millicent,” he said in a soft voice, “ you must not 
interfere with the discipline.” 

Grace went up to Millicent and assisted her to a 
seat on a block of st 

‘‘ Release that man ! ” said Grace. 

The overseers looked at Sinclair for instructions. 
He said nothing and they cut the cords. 

When Leon turned round, his face was deathly 
pale. 

‘‘We will attend to you by-and-by,” said Sin- 
clair. 

“ You shall not touch him,” said Millicent, in a 
tone of forced calmness. 

“ Millicent,” said Sinclair, “ you forget yourself.” 

“ You have forgotten yourself, sir,” she said with- 
out looking at him. 

At that moment a carriage was passing and Grace 
called to its occupant: 


212 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

‘^Mr. Reed — Mr. Reed.” 

The carriage stopped and Col. Reed got out. Grace 
in a few words explained the situation. 

‘‘Now, Mr. Reed,” she said, “ Millicent is going 
home with me; will you take us in your carriage ?” 

“ If Miss Millicent desires it,” said Mr. Reed, “ I 
will with pleasure.” 

“ I do,” said Millicent, as she rose with an eifort, 
“ and I want to take this young man under my pro- 
tection ; can he go with us now ? ” 

Col. Reed looked at Leon in a puzzled way for a 
moment, then he said : 

“Ah ! ” — he paused for a moment, then continued, 
“ He certainly can.” 

Sinclair looked alarmed. 

“Are you aware, sir,” said he turning to Mr. Reed, 
“ that you are interfering wdth the discipline of one 
of the industrial branches ? ” 

“Yes, sir,” replied Reed, “and I will take the re- 
sponsibility of your daughter’s act if you are not 
man enough to do it.” 

With that he helped the ladies into the carriage. 
He motioned to Leon to take a place beside the 
coachman and the carriage rolled off. 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


213 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

‘‘why didn’t I SPEAK TO HER?” 

What to do with Leon was a problem which per- 
plexed Millicent as they drove along. She was going 
to Grace’s and could not offer him an asylum there. 
Even if Grace were willing to take him, her father 
might return him to Sinclair. 

Her mind was in a chaotic state owing to the pain 
she had suffered as well as the indignity to which 
she had been subjected. 

What were her feelings toward Leon ? She hardly 
knew. She felt that he was entitled to no consider- 
ation at her hands. He had slighted her and had 
been untrue to her. He has squandered his fortune 
in gambling and loose living and was now reaping 
the consequences of his folly. 

Did he not merit his punishment ? Had he not 
brought it on himself ? And why should she inter- 
fere ? These thoughts rushed angrily through her 
mind. Then the memory of his old-time kindness 
came to her like a picture; these memories dimmed 
her eyes with tears and his misdeeds were submerged 
in a flood of sympathy. 

Still she could not tell what to do with him. One 


214 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


thing was certain; she would protect him to the full 
extent of her ability so far as to prevent his being 
taken back among the laborers and to his punish- 
ment. 

That was as far as she would go. It was as far as 
she could go. 

She had not rejected him, but he had slighted her 
in the most insulting manner. She was under no 
obligation to speak to him even. 

Suddenly the silence was broken by Mr. Keed: 

What shall we do with him ? ’’ indicating Leon 
with his thumb. 

‘‘ He will stay at our home,” said Grace impul- 
sively, until his wounds are dressed.” 

But,” faltered Millicent, “ what will your father 
say ? ” 

‘‘ What do I care what he may say,” cried Grace 
indignantly. He has been cruelly treated. He is 
suffering. He needs protection and I will protect 
him.” 

Millicent could not resist the temptation of throw- 
ing her arms around Grace and kissing her, but 
she could not control a little scream of jjain as the 
movement caused her wounded shoulders to bleed 
afresh. 

Arrived at the house, Mr. Reed said: “ Now, I will 
look after this young man and will call for him to- 
morrow. In the mean time your physician will dress 
his wounded shoulder.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


215 


Reed then helped the ladies to alight, spoke to 
the steward in relation to Leon, and drove off. 

There was one or more physicians attached to the 
household of each member of the directory and the 
wounds were dressed in a few moments. 

The wounds were painful and ugly in appearance 
(the flesh being torn rather than cut by the twisted 
wire of the scorpion lash), but the doctor said cheer- 
fully that they would heal up in a very short time. 

“ Will it leave a mark, doctor ? ” said Millicent. 

The doctor shook his head and said: I will do 
my best with it and it may come out all right.” 

Leon was assigned to a room in the servants’ quar- 
ters. He was told by the steward that he might 
walk in the garden, but that he must not leave the 
premises. 

This he had no wish to do, especially as he had a 
comfortable bed and better food than he was used 
to. 

He no longer felt the promptings of pride nor did 
he even feel a desire to tax Millicent with unfaith- 
fulness. 

There were times when he was so angry at her for 
her desertion of him that he would have scorned any 
friendly offer at her hands, but, now, he was a 
changed man. 

Hope deferred, disappointment, hard work, brutal 
treatment and hunger had so broken his spirit that 
he was ready to accept anything from anybody. 


216 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

After as comfortable a night’s rest as lie could ex- 
pect with his wounded back, he arose in the morn- 
ing and borrowing some needles and thread from 
one of the servants, he repaired his laborer’s dress (for 
he had learned to be his own tailor). 

After eating the best breakfast he had eaten since 
he had left Lizzie’s care, he went out into the garden. 
It was very large and well supplied with flowers, 
shade trees and shrubs. 

As he slowly walked down a shady path there 
came out of a side path what appeared to be an illu- 
sion of light blue and white. 

Leon stopped and as his eye became accustomed 
to the light and color, he recognized Millicent clad 
in a wrapper of light blue silk combined ivith white 
lace. She was but flve feet from him. 

Their eyes met at the same moment. 

Leon was still handsome despite his homely garb. 
She, though rather pale, was radiantly beautiful. 

Again Leon felt that bursting feeling in his throat 
which almost strangled him. 

Millicent stood like one transfixed. She could not 
utter a word. Each believed the other to be con- 
scious of a broken vow. 

They gazed at each other lor more than a minute ; 
it seemed an age. 

Leon tried to speak, but his throat was dry, his 
tongue was dry, the fountain of speech was dry. 
They gazed at one another and every nerve tingled 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


217 


until they could bear the agony no longer and then 
Leon by an effort turned slowly and walked quickly 
away. 

Millicent tottered a few steps and sank into a gar- 
den seat. 

At the other end of the path Leon met the steward. 
‘^Col. Reed has sent for you,” he said; ‘‘come this 
way.” 

Leon followed as if he were asleep and got into a 
wagon with two men and was driven away. He did 
not know or care where. 

He was thinking — thinking— thinking, he could 
not say of what. His mind was full of the bright 
vision he had just seen. 

“Why didn’t I speak to her? Why should I? 
What would I have said ? AVhat should I have said ? 
Why didn’t she speak to me ? ” 

“ She had deserted me in my misery,” he said bit- 
terly. “ Her interference in my behalf was only mo- 
mentary, and she will let me go back to slavery. 
Yes, and to my punishment which will be worse than 
ever.” 

Then the material element in his condition ob- 
truded itself 

He would again be starved and worked perhai)s to 
death. 

AVhy did he not beg her to help him — to assist 
him in any way — anything to keep from the slavery ? 
Why did he not appeal to her to take him into her 


218 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


lioiise as a servant in any capacity ? He framed 
speeches which he could have made to her — speeches 
which he was sure would have moved her to look 
kindly on him and help him. 

Then he had a wild desire to Jump out of the 
wagon, run to her and beg her to protect him. Then 
he thought she had changed — she did not care for 
him now. She had only cared for him when he was 
rich, and lie shuddered as he. thought perhaps she 
had been a party to her father’s fraud in stripping 
him of his property. 

Thus he thought and thought until his brain was 
in a whirl. The wagon stopped before a large house 
with a great wall around it. 

At a signal, a small iron gate was opened and he 
was ushered in. His escorts spoke to a man in a 
sort of office and then left Leon in his charge. 

Leon was escorted by an attendant to a long 
building in the enclosure and told he would occupy 
room thirty. 

Leon merely glanced at the room, then wandered 
out into the air. He found a seat in a secluded spot 
and sat down with his face buried in his hands. 

When Millicent recovered from her surprise at 
Leon’s sudden departure, she started as if to follow 
him, then checked herself and walked towards the 
house. 

Some time after she asked in a casual way of the 
doctor how Leon was getting on. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


219 


He has been taken away,” said the doctor. 

Millicent started: “ AVhat!” she said. “ By whom ? ” 

‘‘An order came for him signed by Mr. Reed.” 

“ Where have they taken him ? ” 

“ To Mr. Reed’s garden house,” replied the doctor. 
“One of the men said that was where they were 
ordered to leave him.” 

“What for?” 

“ I don’t know,” replied the doctor. 

Then Millicent was tormented with the idea that 
her father might get hold of him again. That she 
knew would be almost equivalent to death. 

What should she do ? She rushed up-stairs to 
Grace’s room. 

“ Grace, Grace ! ” she called ; “ they have taken him 
away.” 

“ Who is taken away ? ” said Grace languidly, lay- 
ing down a book she was reading. 

“ Le — I mean the man avIio was whipped. What 
shall we do ? ” 

Then Millicent explained the situation of affairs to 
Grace. 

“ Why,” said Grace, “ we will drive to Mr. Reed’s 
garden house and find out.” 

And they did ; but on their way they met Mr. Reed 
and he explained that he would take charge of Leon 
and see that he was protected from all harm. 


220 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XXVIL 

RETURNED FROM SLAVERY. 

Leon had been at Mr. Reed’s house for two days 
when the steward sent for him. 

Leon presented himself at the office; the steward 
simply glanced at him for a moment, and then said : 

‘‘A suit of clothes has been sent to your room ; 
you’ll put it on at once and hold yourself in readi- 
ness to leave here when notified.” 

Where do I go ? ” asked Leon. 

“ I don’t know,” replied the steward. 

“Am I sent away by Mr. Reed’s orders ? ” 

“ I answer no further questions,” said the steward, 
“ and if you know what is good for you, you’ll ask 
none; now go.” 

Leon went directly to his room, and there found 
a complete outfit of clothing. It was almost as good 
as the suit he had discarded many months before 
when he put on his laborer’s clothing. 

The next morning he was summoned by the stew- 
ard and told to accompany a man who was standing 
in the hall. He glanced at the man and then at the 
steward and was about to ask a uestion when the 
steward waved him off, saying: 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 221 

“ It is useless to ask questions as I know nothing; 
you are to follow this man ; ” he then nodded to the 
man who turned to Leon, saying: 

^‘Are you ready ? ” Leon hesitated a moment and 
glanced at the steward, and recognizing the fact that 
it was idle to object, replied : 

I am.” The man opened the door and they passed 
out. Leon asked his companion several questions 
which he bluntly refused to answer. At last Leon 
said: 

“ Won’t you tell me where you are taking me ? ” 

Well,” said the man, I suppose there is no harm 
in that, as you will know soon enough. I am taking 
you to the office of lawyer Hiton.” 

Leon’s heart gave a great leap and he almost fell 
in a faint. Could it be i)ossible that his case had 
been won ? Was he about to be freed from slavery ? 
Was he once more to live as a human being ? Such 
thoughts made him feel so joyful that he could 
hardly keep from crying out and leai)ing. 

After half an hour’s walk through the lonely 
streets, Leon found himself in lawyer Hiton’s office. 
That gentleman looked just about the same as when 
he had parted from him, and greeted Leon with 
great good humor: 

‘‘ Well, my boy,” he said, ‘^how do you like being 
a laborer ? ” 

I don’t like it,” said Leon ; “ are you going lo send 
me back again ? 


222 THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 

“ I don’t think we can,” said the lawyer. 

Thank God,” said Leon, fervently. And the 
lawyer went on: 

Sinclair now knows of your being a laborer, and 
you would not be safe in any of the company’s 
yards.” 

Well, what are you going to do with me ? ” 

Leon had reached a thoroughly humble state and 
he seemed to regard himself as a sort of chattel to 
be moved about at the pleasure of the lawyer. 

‘‘I hardly know,” the lawyer replied; '‘but we 
must keep you out of Sinclair’s reach or our cake 
will be dough; but never mind, we will do some- 
thing.” 

The next question that Leon asked was the most 
important one and his breath came thick and fast 
as he spoke. 

“ How — how is the case ? ” This was said almost 
in a whisper, but the lawyer’s smile was reassuring 
as he said : 

“ It is progressing very favorably. I think we can 
fix things all right. Yes, I am pretty sure we 
will,” he added after a moment’s pause. “ I guess 
you will be tolerably safe; for any interference 
with you now, will rebound on Sinclair. Nothing 
he can do will prevent the case going on to a ter- 
mination.” 

Then the lawyer turned to his desk, saying: 

“You will stay at my house to-night and in the 


THE REIGN OE SELFISHNESS. 223 

mean time you can amuse yourself out there,” point- 
ing to the outer office. 

Leon slept at Mr. Hiton’s house that night. He oc- 
cupied a beautiful room, slept in a comfortable bed 
and had a most bounteous and elaborate dinner. 
He once more began to feel like a human being 

The next day he went again to Hiton’s office, and, 
talking with the clerks, learned of the progress his 
case was making; he could not understand many of 
the technical terms used by the clerks, but Mr. 
Hiton’s confident manner and hearty way of speak- 
ing of it gave him courage. 

Leon was an entirely different person from the 
careless individual who had sailed from Euroj)e the 
year before; instead of being blase and selfish, he 
was now thoughtful, considerate and alert; the hard 
life he had led as a laborer had strengthened his 
character and brought to the surface force and energy 
which neither he nor his friends ever dreamed of his 
possessing. 

Mr. Hiton was surprised at shrewd suggestions 
which he made in regard to his case and oftentimes 
found him quite useful in consultation. 


224 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

‘‘ IS MISS HOLT IN ? ” 

The wounds on Millicent’s shoulder healed up 
readily; but with the wound to her feelings the 
matter was different. To be struck with a scorpion 
was a terrible degradation. She continued to live 
with her friend Grace for some time after Leon was 
taken to Mr. Reed’s. 

Millicent resisted all the overtures which her 
father made to her to return home. All his requests 
and pleadings were of no avail. She had but one 
answer to all: “I have no desire to be again beaten 
with a scorpion.” 

Her father’s saying it was an accident and that it 
was unintentional, that he was beside himself and 
did not know what he was doing, made no impres- 
sion on this high-spirited girl. 

The only hope she would give him was that she 
might come back some time and live with him. But 
she would make no promise. 

Her friend. Miss Grace Otis, and Mr. Otis were so 
indignant that they combated every suggestion on 
her part to return; moreover, she was for a long 
time undergoing a delicate surgical operation to pre- 
vent the cuts made by the scorpion leaving a scar. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


225 


Sinclair’s fellovv-directors heard of the assault on 
his daughter in more or less exaggerated form, and 
he was in a manner ostracized. 

In their school days Millicent and Maud Holt were 
very great friends. 

After leaving school Millicent was absent from the 
city a great deal and so the girls lost sight of each 
other. 

After Mr. Holt lost his business and fortune, Maud, 
in a sj)irit of foolish pride, cut adrift from nearly all 
her old companions. She feared comment on her 
changed condition and she hated sympathy and so 
repelled all oifers of aid or overtures of friend- 
ship. 

Shortly after her father’s arrest and imprisonment, 
she learned that Griffin had a man Avatching her. 

She became frightened and one night she ran away 
from her home. She left a note saying that she 
could not let her brother and the doctor know where 
she was living, for if they came to see her, Griffin’s 
men would follow them and find her retreat. 

She wished them a heart-broken farewell and ex- 
pressed a hope of seeing them again. 

She rented a small room in a tenement and did 
what she could to support herself by sewing for her 
poor neighbors. 

This Avas a most precarious way of living, for the 
people had very little money to paj for seAving. 

In this room she made a noble fight for life and 

15 


226 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


honor, all the time hedged in by poverty in its most 
cruel forms. 

Cold, hunger and loneliness. Sickness came also 
and then she sacrificed her pride. 

She wrote a short note to Millicent asking her to 
call on her. 

Millicent was delighted to hear from her old friend 
again and started out that same afternoon to find 
her. 

The day was biting cold; when she reached the 
neighborhood of the directions given in the note, she 
was surprised to find it filled with poor tenements. 

But Millicent was not the sort of a girl to be turned 
back or baffled by trifles, so she found the right num- 
ber and was directed by a woman in the house to a 
room on the third floor. On reaching the door she 
knocked three times before she heard a voice asking 
her to come in. 

She opened the door and saw the figure of a wo- 
man seated on a low stool in front of a stove. The 
woman was all huddled up. 

Millicent was very nervous, and she said in a timid 
voice: 

“ Is Miss Holt in?” 

The figure did not move. 

Millicent paused and with beating heart repeated 
in a louder voice, “ Is Miss Holt in ? ” 

Still there was no response. 

Suddenly a chill feeling of horror almost shook 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


227 


Millicent’s frame as the tliciiglit rushed into her 
mind that j)erhaps the huddled figure was dead. 

She stood rooted to the spot, gazing with a fasci- 
nated horror at the form. How long she never knew. 

A gust of wind came down the chimney with so 
much noise that it startled her and she gave a cry of 
alarm. 

What ? ” came a question from the figure, and at 
the same instant the figure (a young girl) stood up 
and turned towards Millicent. 

The girls stared at each other in silence for a mo- 
ment, then there was a fiash of recognition. 

‘‘Maud!’’ 

“Millie!” 

And the girls were locked in each other’s arms 
and then they both cried hysterically. When they 
became more calm they sat upon the side of the bed 
and talked. 

Poor Maud was hollow-eyed and weak and as she 
sat beside her friend she told the sad story of her 
father’s ruin ; of the rapid decline of their fortune, 
of the assault on herself and her father’s imprison- 
ment, and she again asked eagerly the question she 
had asked her brother and her lover: 

“ Could I help it? Was it my fault ? ” 

“ Your fault ? ” cried Millicent. “ Your fault ? A 
thousand times No.” 

The answer came with such a burst of warmth, 
with such an unexpected glow of feeling, the first 


228 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Avarm or kindly word Maud had heard in months, 
that the girl looked puzzled or stupefied for a mo- 
ment. This was followed by a glad look of intelli- 
gence; her face flushed for a second, but the reaction 
was too much for her strength; she became deadly 
pale and she sank back on the bed in a faint. 

Millicent revived her .after a few minutes and Maud 
told her that she had left her home to escape Griffin’s 
officers. She had not dared to tell her brother or 
Dr. Clark where she lived, lest they should visit her 
and so be followed by the officers. 

‘‘But how have you lived since you have been 
here ? ” asked Millicent. 

“ Oh, I hardly know,” she said in a weak, weary 
voice ; “ I did some sewing for some of the poor peo 
pie around here and I made enough to eat, up to 
yesterday.” 

“ What ? ” cried Millicent, “ haven’t you had any- 
thing to eat since yesterday ? ” 

“No,” said the girl, sadly. 

“My goodness,” said Millicent, “that won’t do. 
Why, haven’t you a fire ? ” 

“ Fuel is all used up.” 

“ Here,” said Millicent, “ you get right into bed 
and I will get you food.” 

Maud had no choice but to yield. She submitted 
to being covered up in bed as if she were a child, 
and for the reason that now that she had some one 
to lean upon, some one to help her, the nerve 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


229 


strength which had kept her up, deserted her and 
she lay helpless. 

Millicent went out in haste and returned with two 
men carrying various kinds of food and a quantity 
of wood and coal. 

One of the men made a lire and Millicent warmed 
some prepared soup and fed Maud with it. 

The girl ate a few spoonfuls and then fell into a 
tired slumber. 

“Poor girl,” said Millicent; “she seems to be ex- 
hausted. I will cook some meat for her.” 

She could hnd neither a broiler nor frying pan, so 
she said, “ I’ll see if I can borrow one.” 

She went out and knocked at the next room door. 


230 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XXIX. 

THE BABY PILOT. 

There was one matter Avliicli perplexed Leon in a 
way that almost amounted to torture. He could not 
understand how Millicent regarded him nor could he 
make up his mind how he should regard her. 

Her father had robbed him of all he had and she 
was enjoying the fruits of the robbery. She had 
ceased to correspond with him without any reason. 

It looked as if she were a party to the robbery, or 
at least condoned it. 

If she did not approve of her father’s conduct, why 
did she not intercede for him and protect his rights ? 
Then the answer came: she did protect him with her 
own body and probably it was through her efforts 
that he was now restored to comparative comfort. 

Thus he argued with himself back and forth until 
his head would ache and he would try to wrench 
himself from the subject by doing work or taking 
long walks. 

Such was his state of mind one bitter cold after- 
noon when he walked out into the street to try to 
walk himself off the subject that was so near his 
heart. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


231 


He walked rapidly and in a short time found him- 
self in the laborers’ quarter. 

The cold had driven people to their houses for 
shelter; there was scarcely a living creature to be 
seen. 

Leon was hurrying along trying to study out some 
problem connected with liis case which Hiton had 
called his attention to, when he slipped on a sheet 
of ice and down he went in a way that surprised 
him. 

His hat flew off and the wind was driving it 
along the sidewalk when a queer little flgure jumped 
out of a doorway and stopped it. 

Leon scrambled to his feet as best he could and 
brushed the dust off his clothes. 

As the little flgure waddled up to him he could 
not repress a smile. 

It was a boy of about four years of age, dressed in 
a most grotesque manner. He had on a man’s blue 
woollen shirt which reached his heels. The sleeves 
hung down so that his hands were not visible. 
Around his waist a small yellow shawl was tied, 
while his head was tied up in a red scarf the ends of 
which were twined around his neck. 

“Here is your hat, sir,” he said as he tried to 
brush the dust off with the loose end of his sleeve. 

“Well, my little man,” said Leon, “where did 
you drop from ? ” 

“I didn’t drop, sir; I corned down-stairs.” 


233 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


“ Oh, you corned down stairs without dropping. I 
am the one that dropped, I guess,” said Leon as he 
put his hand in his pocket to find a coin for the boy. 

“ Yes, sir,” said the boy, agreeing with Leon. 

“ It is too cold for a little boy like you to be out 
in the street. Now, if I give you that,” said Leon, 
showing the boy a silver coin, “ will you go home 
and stay there ? ” 

“No, sir,” said the boy looking at the coin with 
wide-open eyes. 

“ You won’t ? ” 

“ No, sir.” 

“ Why not ? ” 

“ ’Cause I get somebody for mamma.” 

“ Get somebody for mamma ? Where is mamma ? ” 

“ Mamma can’t get uj), she sick,” said the boy as his 
lip quivered and his eyes filled with tears. 

He brushed the tears away with his sleeve, while 
Leon looked at him in a puzzled way. 

“ Where is your mamma ? ” he said. 

“Up there,” said the boy pointing to the next 
house ; “ she got nothing to eat.” 

“ Come show me,” said Leon, as he took the boy 
by the hand. 

Tlie boy led him to the door of a common tene. 
ment house. 

“Up there,” he said. 

Leon took the boy in his arms and carried him up 
one fiight of stairs. • 


REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. S33 

Does your mother live on this floor ? ” 

“No, up.” 

Leon carried him u}) another flight. 

“ Here ? ” said Leon. 

“ No,” said the boy. “ Up.” 

Again they went up another flight. 

“ Any more ? ” said Leon. 

“ No,” said the boy as he jiointed to a door. Leon 
knocked twice. There was no sound from within. 

“Open,” said the boy. 

Leon opened the door and walked into the room 
with the boy in his anus. 

It was a bare cheerless room ; its only furnishings 
were three chairs, a stove, a small table, and a bed 
in one corner. On the bed a woman was sleeping 
with her face to the wall. 

The boy motioned to be let down. 

Leon put him on the floor. He climbed on a chair 
which was by the head of the bed. He leaned over 
the bed and looked at the woman for a moment; 
then turning his head towards Leon he pulled up 
his right sleeve so as to uncover his right hand, and 
placed his index finger on his lips. 

The attitude was so comical and the face was so 
earnest, that Leon could scarce keep from laughing 
outright, but he restrained himself and nodded to 
the boy, at the same time putting his finder to his 
own lips. 

Leon stepped to the bed and looked at the woman. 


234 THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 

She was thin and careworn. 

“ I won’t wake her,” he said ; “ I guess a little sleej) 
will do her good.” 

He went to the fire to warm his hands; the fire 
was out. 

Here, this won’t do,” he said in a whisper; “ that 
•woman will freeze; we must have a fire. Where is 
the coal and wood ? ” 

“No coal. No wood.” The boy replied. 

At that moment the woman awoke. She called 
“Harry, Harry, where are you?” 

“ Here I is,” said the boy as he climbed into the 
bed. 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


235 


CHAPTER XXX. 

HOW CHARITY MAY" HELP A MAN IN HIS LOVE 
AFFAIRS. 

The woman seized him in her arms and liugged 
him convulsively. 

‘‘Thank God. Thank God,” she cried, “thank 
God you are safe, my poor boy, my little boy. I 
thought they had taken you away from me, my 
sweet little boy.” 

She kissed him over and over again. 

“ Don’t go away from your mother. Please don't, 
my darling boy, my sweet boy. Don’t let them take 
you away. You are all I have left. If they take 
you away, it will break my heart,” and the poor wo- 
man pressed him to her bosom. 

She had not observed Leon, and as she repeated 
the words, “ My poor boy, my darling,” she again 
fell into a drowse. 

Leon’s eyes filled with tears as he heard the poor 
woman pleading, and a great lump came into his 
throat. 

“ Poor thing,” he said as he wiped his eyes ; then 
he added, “ poor thing is all very well, but the first 
thing I had better do is to get some coal and wood. 
How is she off for provisions, I wonder ? ” 


23G 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


He tip-toed to tlie cupboard and looked in ; there 
was nothing on the shelves but a few dishes and 
part of a loaf of bread. 

He immediately left the room. 

In about half an hour he returned with two men 
carrying a quantity of provisions and a basket of 
coal and wood. 

Leon motioned to the men, they laid the baskets 
on the floor and departed. 

Leon glanced at the woman, she was still dozing. 

. ‘^Now,” he said, “the first thing to do is to make 
a Are. Hang it, why didn’t I think to have those 
fellows make it ? Just my luck, I was always stupid. 
Well,” he said with a groan, “here goes.” 

“ Harry, Harry,” called the woman from the bed. 
Leon started and then said, “ He is all right, ma’am. 
He’s a clever little fellow, a smart ” 

The woman turned her face toward Leon in alarm. 

“Who are you? What do you want?” she said 
in a frightened manner. 

“ I came here with your little boy to see how you 
were. I see you are not very well and I am going to 
make a fire for you.” 

“You are very kind,” said the woman, “but there 
is no coal or wood.” 

“ Oh, yes, there is,” said Leon; “ there it is.” 

“ Coal,” said the woman, looking at it in wonder, 
“ where did it come from? ” 

Leon hated expressions of gratitude, so he said, 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


237 


A man just left it here — lie was a large man with 
a dark beard. You haven’t any relatives with dark 
beards, have you? Perhaps he was one.” 

The woman shook lier head. ‘‘He must have 
made a mistake. It is for some of the other ten- 
ants,” she said. 

“No, no,” said Leon hastily, “no mistake. There 
was another man with him, who left some meat and 
other knick-knacks. He said it was all right. And 
if it isn’t all right, I’ll make it all right.” 

“No, no,” said the woman again, “I can’t allow 
that. I cannot take charity.” 

Leon was nonplussed for a moment, then he burst 
out into a forced laugh. 

“ Charity? ” he said. “ Ha ha, this is not charity. 
If I pay for these things, I make you a loan — and 
I expect you to iiay me.” 

“ But I can’t pay you.” 

“Oh, yes, you can. You are honest.” 

“ But I may die.” 

Leon paused for a moment before he added, “ Then 
speak a good word for me in heaven. That will 
wipe out the debt. But what nonsense to talk of 
dying.” 

At that moment the boy woke uj) and slid out of 
bed. He greeted Leon as an old friend. 

“ Ah, you are the boy I want,” said Leon as lie 
gave him a piece of candy, “ now let us make the 
lire.” 


238 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


‘^You must not bother with the fire/’ said the 
woman hastily, let me.” 

‘‘Nonsense,’' said Leon, “you must not get up, it 
Avould kill you.” 

Leon in a clumsy manner proceeded to make a 
fire. 

He then took a piece of beefsteak out of the 
basket and put it into the frying pan, and after 
many directions from the woman succeeded in fry- 
ing it. 

Leon then proceeded to unpack the basket which 
he had brought. 

It contained a large assortment of goods and deli- 
cacies. There were several cans of prepared soup 
and jellies. There was also a bottle of port wine. 

Why, hoAV singular,” said Leon, “ do you like 
soup, ma’am?” 

“Yes,” said the woman. 

“Well, there are several cans of soui) here. Let me 
see,” and he read the directions on the can. “ Put 
three tablesi30onfuls in a pint of boiling water, and 
thicken with flour. Now, that’s easy enough, isn’t 
it?” 

“ Yes,” said the woman. 

Leon got a saucepan out of the closet and jiartly 
filled it with water, put it on the fire and watched 
it with great interest while waiting for it to boil. 
Occasionally he would put his finger into the water 
to see if it was getting hot. After what seemed to 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


239 


him a long time, it did boil and he put in a good 
quantity of the prepared soiij). 

He took a spoon and tasted it once or twice but 
seemed dissatisfied with it. 

He took up the can and again read the directions. 

That’s the trouble,” he said with a smile of re- 
lief, I must thicken it with flour.” 

He had become rather warm with his work, and 
asked the woman’s i:)ermission to take off his coat. 

Certainly,” she said, but you had better not 
bother you will get your clothes all spoiled.” 

^‘That reminds me,” said Leon, and he took a 
paper out of his pocket, and made an apron of it, 
tying it on with a string. 

He then took a handful of flour and dropped it 
into the boiling soup. To his horror it formed into 
round white lumps. 

While he was looking ruefully at it, he jyiit his 
hand reflectively to his face, leaving a smear of 
flour. 

He was about to ask the woman what was the 
matter with the sou^), when there came a knock at 
the door. 

“ Come in,” said the woman. 

The door opened and in walked Millicent Sinclair. 

Never was man more astonished or horrified. 

Here he was in the presence of the woman he loved 
after their long separation. He felt that he W9,s in a 
position at once ridiculous and humiliating. 


240 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


He would have given anything to have escaped 
unobserved. 

In an instinctive effort to hide his face, he put his 
befloured hand to his head and smeared the whole 
side of his face and head. 

He nervously picked up the frying j)an, and walked 
toAvard the other side of the room. 

‘‘ Excuse me,” said Millicent, “ a woman down- 
stairs said you were sick.” 

“This gentleman has been very kind to me and 
my child,” said the woman. “ He got coal and Avood 
and made a fire, and brought all these things. He 
said a man brought them. He’s a man. God bless 
him. God bless him,” and the woman sobbed. 

Millicent put her handkerchief to her own eyes, 
while she put her hand sympathetically on the fore- 
head of the woman. After a moment Millicent 
looked into the saucepan on the stove, “ What is 
this in the saucepan? ” she said. 

“That’s soup he is making for me,” said the 
woman. 

“ I’m afraid, sir,” said Millicent, “ you have made 
a mistake here.” 

“Have I, miss?” said Leon trying to disguise his 
voice while he resolutely kept his back towards her. 
He held a big spoon in one hand and the frying-pan 
in the other. 

Each moment he expected her to go, but she lin^ 
gered. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


241 

‘‘ What are these white balls in the soup, sir? ” 

“ I — I think that’s Hour — flour, miss, to — to thicken 
it, you know.” 

Millicent smiled. Oh, flour! did you blend it? ” 

“ Blend it? ” said Leon in an awe-stricken voice. 

Yes, blend it in cold water first? ” 

‘‘ No, miss, I — I forgot — I mean I didn’t know.” 

‘‘Never mind, I’ll fix it for you.” 

“ I wish she’d go,” said Leon to himself. 

Millicent again looked into the saucepan and then 
at Leon. She endeavored to suppress the smile that 
defied her efforts to look serious. 

She stood there for several seconds biting her lips, 
and after an effort she said in a business-like tone 
as she turned to the woman. 

“ I wish to cook some meat for your neighbor, can 
I borrow a frying-pan or a broiler? ” 

Leon gave a convulsive start and tried to hide the 
frying-pan in his paper apron. 

“ Certainly,” said the woman, “ the gentleman has 
the frying-pan.” 

“ There she goes betraying me at the first oppor- 
tunity,” groaned Leon, “ I’m caught now.” 

“ Can you spare the frying-pan, sir? ” advancing 
towards him. 

“ Yes, miss,” he said, as he held it towards her, 
keeping his face averted. He let it fall and as he 
picked it up she walked in front of him. 

Leon staggered back and Millicent, after staring at 

i6 


242 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


him for a moment, cried out, Why, Mr. Pelon, is it 
you? ” 

“Yes,” said Leon in a despairing tone, “it is 1.” 

He was a comical sight with his newspaper apron 
and his flour-spotted face and clothes. 

To add to his grotesque appearance the whole side 
of his face was whitened with flour, and there was a 
sj)eck of soot on his nose. 

Millicent could not control herself and she burst 
out laughing. 

“ Such a ridiculous figure,” she said to herself as 
she laughed, “but he is a dear good fellow to make 
a Are,” and the tears came into her eyes. 

“ What am I to do? ” groaned Leon. 

“ Such a figure! ” said Millicent again, laughing. 

“ I’ll never hear the end of this,” groaned Leon. 

Again the tears came into Millicent’s eyes as she 
said, “ The poor fellow to try to make soup.” 

“ She’ll never look at me again,” another groan 
from Leon. 

“ To put flour in it in that way,” said Millicent, 
again laughing. 

“ What a bundle of misfortunes I am 1 ” groaned 
Leon. 

“ To get the poor woman wine and jelly, the dear 
good fellow (crying), I’ll never forget it, the good 
fellow.” 

“What business had I to come anyway?” said 
Leon ruefully. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 243 

To put on an apron,” and again Millicent laughed. 

But,” said Leon again to himself, “ I couldn’t let 
them freeze and starve.” 

“To say a man sent all these things! Yes, a riian 
did send them, a dear good man, bless him,” again 
Millicent’s eyes filled with tears. 

Millicent wiped her eyes and forced a smile as she 
walked over to him. 

“ Excuse me for laughing,” she said, “ but you do 
look too funny.” 

“ I know it,” he said with a sigh. 

“ But it was kind of you to assist this poor woman 
and I shall not forget it.” 

“ I wish I could,” said Leon. 

“ Mr. Felon, there is my hand, you may count me 
as your friend,” said Millicent, “and — and as a 
woman I thank you from the bottom of my heart 
for what you have done for this poor woman.” 

“Thank you,” said Leon for want of something 
better to say. 

“ I hope you will forgive me for laughing, but you 
did look so funny.” 

“ Thank you,” said Leon in a dazed way. 

“ Excuse me,” Mr. Felon, “ let me dust the flour off 
your face.” 

Millicent took her handkerchief and dusted the 
flour from his face. The poor fellow hardly knew 
whether he was awake. 

“ There now, sir, you look better.” 


244 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


‘‘ Thank you very much,” said Leon, “ can I be of 
any service to you?” he added. 

“ Thank you very much,” said Millicent, for your 
oifer. If you will get some water for me I will be 
obliged.” 

Leon followed Millicent into Maud’s room. Maud 
was still asleep. 

“I really could not help laughing at you, you 
looked so funny with the apron on and the flour on 
your face; I hope you will excuse me,” said Milli- 
cent as Leon returned with a can of w^ater. 

‘‘ Of course I will excuse you. Miss Sinclair; but I 
think that in some more serious matters you have 
hardly treated me with courtesy.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


246 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

THEY BELIEVE IN ONE ANOTHER. 

Suddenly Millicent stopped and became formal. 
She said, ‘‘ I do not see any reason why I should 
excuse your most insulting treatment of me, sir.^’ 

“Insulting treatment of you? Why! What do 
you mean?” asked Leon. 

Millicent looked at him scornfully. 

“ You ought to know what I mean,” she replied. 

“ On my honor, I do not know what you mean, 
Miss Sinclair,” said Leon earnestly; then he added 
imploringly, “ O Millicent, why do you act this 
way? Why do you talk in riddles? Haven’t we 
been parted long enough? Haven’t I suffered 
enough? Haven’t we had enough of this estrange- 
ment? I am willing to let bygones be bygones and 
forget the wretched past and forgive everything,” 
he added sadly. 

“ Forgive? ” said Millicent indignantly, “ what 
have you to forgive? ” 

“ What have I to forgive? ” cried Leon with his 
eyes blazing; “what have I to forgive? Did I not 
write letter after letter to you? Yes, ten letters and 
yet you would not reply? Millicent, you might at 


246 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS 


least have told me why you broke our correspon- 
dence off? ’’ 

I replied to every letter I received from you, and 
I sent you several letters after you had ceased to 
write.” 

What? ” said Leon, and he looked keenly into the 
eyes of the girl. She returned his gaze without a 
quiver. 

For a long time they stood staring into each other’s 
eyes as if each desired to fathom the innermost 
thoughts of the other. 

“Yes,” she added, “and I could have forgiven 
your scandalous conduct had you not treated me 
with such insolence.” 

Leon shook his head in a most hopeless way. 
There was an expression of pain on his face as he 
said, “ Millicent, I don’t know what to say or do. 
All I can say I have said. I can repeat it and if you 
don’t believe me I can’t help it. I never left one of 
your letters unanswered, but you have ten or more 
of mine which have still to be answered.” 

“I have answered every letter you sent me. 
When did you write the last letter? ” said Millicent. 

“ In March of last year,” said Leon. 

“ The last I received from you was dated Febru- 
ary 1st,” said Millicent. 

“ What became of the others? ” said Leon. “ Your 
last letter to me was written in Lyonesse. In it 
you told me of the pleasant time you had at Mrs. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


247 


Waldridge’s and it was full of kindness and affec- 
tion. You said notliing of breaking off the corre- 
si)ondence.” 

‘^Was that the last one you received?” asked 
Millicent. 

‘‘ Yes, that was the last one. I almost know it by 
heart. I have read it over a hundred times.” 

“ Is that true? ” she said looking into his eyes. 

‘‘ It is,” he replied. 

“I believe you, Leon. I believe you,” she said, 
and Leon held her off from him while he looked 
into her eyes. 

And,” he said, I believe you when you say you 
answered my letters. I want no proof. My dear, 
we have had enough of unbelief.” 

“ Too much,” she said as she slid into his arms. 
He was about to kiss her when she said : 

I am so happy, Leon, that I will forgive you.” 

‘‘Forgive me?” echoed Leon in surprise. “Of 
what will you forgive me? I know of nothing for 
which you should forgive me.” 

“Nothing?” said Millicent. 

“ Nothing that I know of,” said Leon. 

“Did you not gamble your whole estate away 
among dissolute people in Paris?” 

“No; who said I did?” 

“Are you sure?” said Millicent. 

“ Sure? Why I never had possession of my es- 
tate. How could I gamble it away? ” 


248 ME REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

“ Then how came you to be so reduced as to be 
obliged to work as a common laborer? ” 

Leon looked at Millicent long and earnestly. 

“ Don’t you know? ” he said. 

‘‘No,” she said. “Except what my father told 
me.” 

Leon was about to speak, but with an effort re* 
frained. 

After a pause he said : 

“ My dear girl, I will not tell you. You will know 
soon enough and I would rather not be the one to 
tell you. I must beg for your own good as well as 
mine that you do not ask me, and I ask you to put 
your faith in me so far as to believe my unsupported 
word when T say it was through no fault of mine 
that I became a common laborer. My darling,’' he 
added, “ will you believe me? ” 

“ I will, Leon,” she said, and he took her in his 
arms. 

“ Now — now,” she said, “ I feel as if I were home 
again after a long, sad journey.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


249 


CHAPTER XXXIL 
‘‘no laborer can be harbored.” 

“ How do you feel, dear ? ” said Millicent, placing 
her hand gently on Maud’s forehead as she sat on 
the bedside. 

“ Oh, very well,” replied Maud, but she looked 
anything but well. 

“Not very well, my dear,” said Millicent smiling. 
“Now, do you know what I am going to do? I 
am going to take you right home with me. You 
shall not stay here an hour longer.” 

Maud’s great eyes expressed gratitude. Then she 
looked alarmed as the thought flashed across her 
mind that there was a great difference in their sta- 
tions. She was a beggar and Millicent a millionaire. 

“No,” she said in an alarmed way. “No, you 
can’t do that; they won’t let you ” 

“ Who won’t let me? ” said Millicent proudly. 

“ The directory,” said the girl fearfully. 

“ Don’t y6u trouble yourself, my dear, about that. 
I will send for the carriage and you will come home 
at once, and that will be like old times, won’t it? ” 

Maud’s face reflected the radiance of Millicent’s 
smile for a moment, then her face twitched as she 
said; 


250 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


‘‘I— lean scarce believe it is over ” and she 

burst out crying again. 

This was too much for Millicent and she threw 
herself beside Maud and the two girls again cried 
together. 

Poor Leon looked on in wonder. He did not 
know what to do. The girls paid no more attention 
to him than if he were a chair. 

It cut him to the heart to see them crying and he 
wanted to console them but he was afraid. He stood 
on one foot and then on the other. Then he felt like 
moving towards the bed, but when he made a slight 
movement it made such a noise in the dead silence 
of the room that it startled him and he stood 
aimlessly where he was, looking helplessly at the 
girls. 

Two or three times he essayed to speak, but when 
he opened his mouth he dared not break the silence. 

How long he would have remained in one position 
it is impossible to tell. 

Fortunately a rush of wind down the chimney 
made such a noise that the girls started and Leon 
took advantage of the noise and movement to say in 
what appeared to him to be a very harsh voice : 

‘‘ Can I go — for a carriage? ” 

Both girls started, but Millicent simply said: 

“ If you will be so kind.” 

Leon did not wait for any directions, but he went 
out of the door with great celerity. 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


251 


He returned in a short time and while Millicent 
was getting Maud ready he arranged with a woman 
in the house to look after the sick woman in the 
next room. 

Maud was very weak and Leon had to almost 
carry her down-stairs to the carriage. In a very 
short time the poor, half -starved girl was comforta- 
bly housed in the palace of Director Kirby. 

Grace made big eyes when she saw what Millicent 
was bringing into the house — but to Grace every- 
thing which Millicent did was right. 

Mr. Kirby was away from home. 

Maud was in a very poor condition and the reac- 
tion had such a weakening effect that she became 
utterly lielpless when she found some one to lean 
on ; she gained strength very slowly. 

The third day after her entrance to the house, the 
steward asked permission to see Miss Millicent. 
Millicent met him in the library. 

‘‘Miss Millicent,” said the steward, “I regret to 
say that there is an officer of the directory in the 
house who says that you are harboring a laborer, 
and that she must leave.” 

“ What! ” said Millicent, with blazing eyes, “ what 
is that? ” 

“ Don’t, miss,” pleaded the steward, “ don’t blame 
me; I was ordered to tell you. The officer is now 
down-stairs and you can see him yourself.” 

“ Show him in,” said Millicent, while she bit her 


252 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


lips to keep back the indignant words which were 
almost forcing their way. through them. 

The officer entered. He was gorgeously uniformed. 
He bowed i)olitely and remained standing as though 
awaiting a command. 

Millicent looked at him defiantly for a moment, 
then, as he showed no signs of being anything but 
the humblest of servants, she laid aside her indig- 
nant manner and said quietly: 

I believe you have some business with me ; will 
you be kind enough to name it? ” 

‘^This is Miss Sinclair, I believe?” 

Millicent bowed. 

I am sorry to say, my lady, that I have been or- 
dered to request you to send Maud Holt to some 
other quarters.” 

‘^How do you know that that young lady is in 
this house?” asked Millicent, hastily. 

The officer raised his hand as if to ward off a blow 
as he said in a pleading tone: Please don’t blame 

me, my lady, I have nothing to do with the matter, 
I am merely obeying orders.” 

I will remember that,” said Millicent. “ Please 
answer my question.” 

“ I do not know how they got the information,” 
said the officer. 

‘^Why do they order this girl’s removal?” said 
Millicent. 

‘‘ Because she is a laborer, and section 708 of the 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


253 


code provides that no director or officer of the 
company shall harbor a laborer.” 

“Why?” 

“ Because,” replied the officer, “ it is dangerous for 
the directory to mix with laborers. It interferes 
with the discipline and it tends to degrade them.” 

“ Do you mean to tell me that I cannot offer the 
hospitality of my house to a friend who is sick and 
has no other home? ” said Millicent, indignantly. 

“ That is the law, my lady, and I am sorry to have 
to inform you that you must obey it.” 

“ Why must I obey such a law? ” 

“ Because, my lady, if the laborer is not removed 
from this house within six hours after notice, it will 
be my duty to come here with such force as is nec- 
essary and remove her to one of the correction insti- 
tutions.” 

“ But she can’t be removed.” 

“ She must be removed inside of six hours.” 

“ It may kill her. Would you kill her? ” 

“ I must obey orders.” 

“Have you no feeling? Can’t I appeal to your 
kindness, your mercy?” 

“I have feeling, my lady, and sympathy, but I 
dare not express them.” 

“This young lady was my dearest friend. We 
were at school together. She is of good family, but 
is poor now. I found her sick, destitute and alone, 
and I brought her home. It will break her heart — 


254 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


it will kill her to take her away now. Please, offi- 
cer, will you not let me nurse my friend back to 
health? ” 

“ My lady, it is useless to talk to me. I am only 
a machine in the hands of the directory. The law 
must be enforced no matter who suffers or even who 
dies.” 

In desperation Millicent faced the officer and said 
vehemently : 

‘‘ She shall not be moved. I defy the law and its 
officers.” 

‘‘ Don’t say that, my lady. It will only necessi- 
tate my using unnecessary force and will make more 
trouble for the laborer.” 

Can’t I in some way stop this? ” 

“ There is no way to stop it.” 

“ Will you let me try? ” 

“ The laAv gives you six hours in which to remove 
her. You can use that time as you may see fit. 
You might try to get the order modified.” 

‘‘ I will try then,” said Millicent. 

“ Can I be of any further service? ’’ said the officer. 

‘‘ You are of no service to me,” said Millicent 
angrily. 

The officer who was an intelligent, refined-looking 
young man flushed and looked pained at this retort. 
Mill icent noticed it, and she added hastily : 

“ I beg pardon, I did not mean to hurt your feel- 
ings. I do not blame you personally.” 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


255 


“ Thank yon,” said the officer gratefully, and he 
bowed as he went out. 

“ Six hours,” said Millicent, I have six hours to 
save Maud.” 

Then she dashed up-stairs and told Grace. Grace’s 
indignation knew no bounds. 

Why didn’t you tell him you wouldn’t let her 
go? Why didn’t you defy him and his law and 
the whole directory? Why didn’t you order him 
out of the house? Why didn’t you have Collins 
lash him with the scorpion? Why didn’t you call 
me? Oh!” she cried impatiently, “what use are 
you?” 

“ My dear,” said Millicent, “ that officer was no 
more to blame than you ; he has no discretion in the 
matter and merely follows directions. But we must 
see some one who can help us. So put on your hat 
and come.” 

The girls got into their coach and drove from one 
director’s house to another, but one and all shook 
their heads and said the girl must go. 

One director got the order so far modified as to 
allow Maud to remain for twenty-four hours and 
further to permit Millicent to select the place where 
she could be domiciled. 

Millicent lost no time in selecting as comfortable 
a place as she could find in a laborer’s family for 
Maud, where she supj)lied her with all the comforts 
which money could buy. She also notified Dr. 


256 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Clark and her brother of her whereabouts, and poor 
Maud rapidly recovered. 

On Maud’s recovery Grace was able to take her 
into her father’s household in the guise of a servant 
and Millicent likewise secured similar asylums for 
Maud’s father (who had been released from prison), 
her brother, and Doctor Clark. 

These three men gratefully accepted positions as 
servants. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XXXIIL 

THE IMPEACHMENT OF DANIEL SINCLAIR. 

The impeachment of Daniel Sinclair had become 
the general topic of conversation. He had never 
been jiopular with the directory, and from the day 
he had captured Lizzie, Col. Reed kept up a con> 
stant plotting against him. 

That act had made these men deadly enemies, or 
at least made Reed a deadly enemy of Sinclair’s. 

Reed bent all his energy and made every effort to 
bring Sinclair into i)Oi)ular disfavor. With this end 
in view he began making friends of everybody in 
the directory; for this j)urpose he spent millions of 
dollars. 

His town house was always open to his friends. 
He gave there a special entertainment three or four 
times a month. In his palace on the river heights 
which he called his cottage, he entertained his 
friends in truly royal style. 

He gave a series of entertainments which dazzled 
the directory. About two hundred and fifty miles 
from the city he had a magnificent castle to which 
he would invite fifty to one hundred guests at a 
time and entertain them as long as they desired to 
stay. 

17 


258 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


He had a number of yachts, both steam and sail- 
ing, and they were always at the disposal of his 
friends. He made no enemies in giving these great 
entertainments, for he issued no invitations. He 
simply let it be known that all members of the di- 
rectory, their families and friends, were welcome, 
and that an invitation was unnecessary ; thus in the 
course of a few months he became the most popular 
man in the directory, and the members were willing 
to grant him any favor. 

In the mean time the preparations for the impeach- 
ment of Sinclair progressed in a most alarming and 
rapid manner. 

Sinclair was at first assured that the directory 
would refuse to consider the matter seriously and in 
this belief he had every reason to consider himself 
secure, for it was well known that the directory 
would be loathe to establish a precedent which 
might strike at any of them. There was scarcely 
one of their number who would desire a close scru- 
tiny into the method by which he had acquired his 
fortune. There was scarcely a man in the whole 
board against whom there were not grave charges of 
peculation or dishonesty connected with his acqui- 
sitions. 

Under these circumstances it was natural that the 
feeling was very strong against the impeachment 
proceedings. 

In numerous interviews which he had with his 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


259 


fellow-directors, Sinclair was assured that any move- 
ment looking towards impeachment would be voted 
doAvn, and that by an overwhelming majority. 

“Why,” said one of the directors; “ no one but a 
fool would vote for it.” 

“ It would be suicide,” said another. 

“ What business has that fellow Hiton interfering 
with the affairs of the directory?” This was said 
by a prominent member of the board. 

“ It would make a precedent which would become 
intolerable,” said another. 

Notwithstanding all this the proceedings went 
steadily on. They seemed to be impelled by some 
invisible but resistless force. 

A special committee of one hundred Avas appointed 
to whom the Avhole matter Avas referred with power 
to try the whole question, 

Sinclair made a thorough canvass of the committee 
and figured as the result that sixty-five were opposed 
to impeachment absolutely, twenty -five in favor of 
impeachment, while ten were non-committal. After 
this he breathed easier. 

Still the preparations went steadily on until the 
3d of September, when the committee announced 
that the impeachment trial would take place on the 
10th. 

This was short notice and rather startled Sinclair, 
but one of his friends said confidentially : 

“ The fact of the matter is this : the directory is 


260 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


tired of tlie whole business and wants to g'et it out of 
the way.” 

E\^erything went to show that a large majority of 
the directory was in consonance with this opinion, 
and Sinclair almost felt like dismissing the matter 
from his mind. 

On the 10th of September, the preparations had all 
been completed, and at twelve o’clock the committee 
assembled. The proceedings were held in the great 
hall of the Casino. 

Tlie trial was opened by impressive ceremonies. 

All of the leading families were present in the 
balconies. The impeachment committee occupied 
the floor of the hall. 

The president with the officers of the board and 
their secretaries occupied a raised dais or platform. 
The members of the committee of impeachment were 
ranged in semicircles directly in front of the presi- 
dent’s chair. The counsel for the respective parties 
had positions to the right and left. 

The proceedings were rather dry at first, being in 
the main documentary evidence and statements of 
the conditions of the Pelon estate, showing the 
changes that had been made in the investments of 
the funds, and various transfers made, and the re- 
investments. 

Mr. Hiton made a startling showing on behalf of 
the estate. 

One of the committee whispered to his neighbor; 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 26l 

This is simply bald villany,” and others said as 
the proceedings went on that the looting of the 
estate was most stupidly and inartistically done. 

One member said audibly, “ The fellow ought to 
be impeached for the idiotic way he has done it.” 

After the evidence for the prosecution was all in, 
a recess was taken until eight o’clock in the even- 
ing. 

Promptly at that hour the president’s gavel fell. 

The spectacle was jiicturesque, beautiful and im- 
pressive. 

Sinclair presented his side of the case and there 
was some broad smiling at the showing it made; 
there were times when the audience and even the 
committee laughed outright as he explained how 
changing of the securities and reinvestments of 
moneys was always followed by a remarkable shrink- 
age; sometimes a change of investments would cost 
the estate fifty thousand, one hundred thousand and 
sometimes even half a million dollars. One of the 
members of the committee said : 

‘‘ Sinclair’s explanations are really funny.” 

At half-past ten o’clock the evidence was all in, 
and the parties submitted their case. 

Then there was a break in the proceedings. The 
president called several of the committee to his desk, 
and held whispering conversations with them. 

Meanwhile the heads of the committee began 
bobbing around ; Mr. Reed was one of the most active. 


262 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


There was a babel of voices both in the balcony and 
on the floor. 

After an earnest conference with the president the 
comniittee-men left the chair and circulated among 
the committee speaking to four or five at a time. 
They were telling the members the result of their 
conference with the president. The president made 
some notes, then looking over the committee he 
brought his gavel down three times before he could 
secure silence. 

He said: ‘‘ Gentlemen, if it is the pleasure of the 
committee we will now take a vote on the question 
of the imx:)eachment of Daniel Sinclair, a director of 
the United Supply Company. Are you ready to 
take a vote? All in favor say aye.” 

There was a chorus of ayes, and then the chairman 
added : 

“ All opposed, nay.” 

There were no nays, and the president added; 

“ It is a vote.” 

Sinclair stood on one side of the hall, deathly pale. 

The chair again spoke — 

“As each director’s name is called, he will rise in 
his place and pronounce either the words ‘ guilty,’ 
or ‘ not guilty.’ ” 

There was almost perfect silence in the hall. The 
jieoifle in the balconies imagined they could hear the 
president breathe as the secretary arranged his 
X)ai)ers. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


263 


The secretary looked at the president. The presi- 
dent nodded. The secretary then in a magnificent 
baritone voice began calling the roll. 

‘‘ Richard J. Anthony.” 

“ Not guilty,” was the response. 

Instantly there was a clapping of hands in the 
balconies. Again the secretary spoke. 

Charles ” 

Down came the chairman’s gavel; the secretary 
paused and looked at the president. There was a 
dead silence. The president then spoke. 

‘‘ It is necessary for the proper conduct of these 
proceedings that there be no demonstrations of 
either approval or disapproval ; the officers will see 
that this order is enforced, and if it cannot be en- 
forced otherwise they will clear the balconies; the 
secretary will now proceed.” 

Again there was silence as the secretary called: 

Charles Brown.” 

‘‘Not guilty,” came in a clear ringing voice — there 
was a movement among the audience. 

“ John J. Berdict,” said the secretary. 

“ Guilty.” 

This was followed by a deep breath that sounded 
almost like the rise of the wind. 

“ William Deymoure,” rang out the secretary’s 
voice. 

“ Guilty,” came the response. 

Another name was called, followed by “ not 


264 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


guilty,” and then another “ guilty,” and then three 
others guilty,” followed a single not guilty.” 

Meanwhile half a dozen directors including Mr. 
Reed were working busily among the members; 
then six more names responded ‘‘ guilty,” and so the 
committee voted until ninety names had been called, 
showing a vote of sixty-five ‘‘guilty,” twenty-five 
“not guilty.” There was one vote lacking of the 
two-thirds necessary to impeach a member; the ex- 
citement was intense. The whispering, coughing 
and movement in the balconies was so great as to 
almost drown the voice of the secretary. Down 
came the president’s gavel twice — there was instant 
silence. 

“ The audience must keep quiet. We must have 
perfect order. The secretary will proceed.” 

To the next name called came the response “ not 
guilty.” 

The audience took a deep breath ; the next voice 
rang out clear and sharp, “guilty,” then for sev- 
eral moments the audience was uncontrollable; the 
president beat his gavel in vain; he i:)aused and 
waited for the audience to get over the excitement. 

Sinclair stood leaning against the wall, glaring 
wildly around and nervously tearing a X)iece of 
paper. 

As soon as order was restored, the voting pro- 
ceeded and every other man responded “guilty;” 
then the secretary called: 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 265 

“Daniel Sinclair;” but there was no response. 
Sinclair had disappeared. 

An officer Avas sent to seek him ; he Avent through 
all the rooms and on returning reported that he 
could not be found in the building. 

A motion was made to adjourn, and the committee 
adjourned sine die: 

The moon AA^as hidden behind clouds on the night 
of the impeachment and it AA^as very dark on the 
bay; there were a number of steam yachts at anchor, 
and their black, shapely forms were scarcely visible 
in the darknses. Two of them had steam up— the 
“ Tartar” and the “ Sythe.” 

Upon the “ Tartar ” there was a good deal of bustle ; 
a boat pulled from the shore and after making a long 
detour, came alongside of the “ Tartar.” A muffled 
figure f olloAved by the crew climbed on the deck ; 
the boat was hastily davited; the bell rang and the 
yacht started. 

At the same instant the “ Sythe ” slipped her 
cable and followed. Tlie “ Sythe ” Avas a little astern, 
but she gained on the “ Tartar ” raxiidly, and seemed 
about to pass when she changed her course and 
brought up alongside the “ Tartar ” with a slight con- 
cussion. In a moment twenty men jumped from the 
“ Sythe ” to the deck of the “ Tartar.” 

The man at the wheel Avas promptly knocked 
doAvn ; there was a scramble among the crew, but a 
[)eremi)tory order, 


266 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


‘‘ Stand where you are and surrender,” checked 
all movement in a moment. 

A man came running up the cabin stairs; he was 
met by one of the boarders who quietly remarked: 

“ Don’t be in a hurry, Sinclair.” The flickering 
light of a lamp showed the features of Sinclair. He 
was ghastly pale. 

“ What does this mean, sir? ” he asked in as strong 
a voice as he could command. 

‘‘Nothing,” answered the man who confronted 
him, “ except that we would like to know why you 
are sailing your yacht at this hour of the night and 
what you have in it? ” 

The speaker now moved in such a way that the 
light fell on his face, revealing the features of Mr. 
Heed. 

“ By what right have you ? ” cried Sinclair, “ med- 
dling ” 

But Reed cut him off with a most sinister smile. 

“ Now, now, don’t talk nonsense; I am a director 
and you are not. I am going to hold you a prisoner 
and take possession of the property you are taking 
to foreign j)arts. After we have secured what be- 
longs to the Pelon estate, w^e will let you have the 
balance — perhaps ; in the mean time make yourself 
as comfortable as you can.” 

Sinclair suddenly pulled out a revolver. Reed, by 
a quick movement, knocked it to the deck. Sin- 
clair’s breath came short as he jianted: 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


267 


‘‘ So you have been at the bottom of this business, 
have yon? ” 

Reed laughed heartily as he replied: 

“ Have you just found that out? Well, I gave 
you credit for more brains than that.” 

Sinclair got off the usual highly -spiced remarks, to 
which Reed listened with an amused smile. Then 
Sinclair was taken to the shore and put under sur- 
veillance. 

In the yacht was found nearly fifteen millions in 
gold and securities. 


268 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XXXIV. 

ROYAL SPORT— BUT DANGEROUS. 

It was a delicious spring day. The air was balmy, 
the sky was beautiful in its unbroken expanse of 
deep blue. 

There were few places where such a day could be 
better enjoyed than at the conservatory. 

The conservatory was located on the Grand Bou- 
levard of Pactolus. It was a palace in the form of a 
cottage. It was set a goodly distance back from the 
roadway, with a velvety lawn running down to the 
flagging of the walk. There were a few ornamental 
trees scattered over the grounds and here and there 
a group of exotics. 

To the right of the cottage there was a massive 
fountain, throwing a stream so fine that it seemed 
like gauze. 

To the left was a small cataract almost hidden 
amongst shrubs. 

When one entered this cottage it became a palace. 

The floor of the entrance hall was a series of illus- 
trations of historical events in tiling. The reception 
room was finished in oak — floor, walls and ceiling, 
and every i)anel was carved with a different design. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


269 


The settees, chairs and tables were of oak, and no 
two were alike ; each was a work of art. 

The parlor was white. The carpet was white with 
the exception of one corner which was ornamented 
with a great profusion of stars of a delicate shade oi’ 
gold. They were scattered loosely over a part of the 
corner nearest the centre of the room, but they came 
closer together as they neared the apex of the cor- 
ner, until their points interlaced and some were 
massed and heaped on top of one another. The 
effect was striking but pleasing. 

The chairs and sofas were inlaid with ivory and 
gold and upholstered in white plush, silk or satin. 

The curtains were like cobwebs. 

The chandelier was of solid gold. 

Through the house there were numerous suites of 
rooms furnished in the most luxuriantly extravagant 
manner. 

There was a private dining room covered entirely 
with mirrors. The walls and doors were of massive 
plate mirrors. The ceiling was formed of enormous 
plate mirrors, and even the floor was composed of 
mirrors. 

The feet of the tables and chairs were muffled, and 
guests dining in this room wore slippers with soles 
of plush. 

There was a red room, a blue room, a gold room, 
and a silver room, an ebony room, and a room en- 
tirely upholstered in fur. 


270 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


One of the most charming rooms in the house was 
the “ nest ” or rather the crystal room. 

At the southwestern corner of the cottage was a 
tower or minaret. The toj) of this tower was an 
octagon-shaped room called the “nest.” With the 
exception of the floor, this room was entirely of 
glass. 

Eight people could be dined in this room, and a 
pleasanter place for dining can scarcely be imagined. 

The view from the “nest” was a feast in itself 
— up the river, down the bay, across to the w^est 
hills, and back again across the two beautiful 
islands. 

The views were charming. There was nothing to 
displease the eye but the dull, red and black city, 
disfiguring the landscape to the southeast. 

This room was provided with an ingeniously con- 
structed awning which could be shifted at will to 
keep out the light and sun when they became offen- 
sive. 

It was a perfect dining room. As an added charm 
it was most delightfully exclusive, for it would ac- 
commodate but eight peojile and it was an unwritten 
law that no one should be permitted to dine in the 
“ nest ” who was not possessed of at least one million 
dollars. 

It so happened that when Selby Gray opened his 
eyes on this beautiful spring morning with a yearn- 
ing for a new draft of pleasure (he being ten times 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


271 


a millionaire and consequently having the entry of 
the conservatory, and not only of the conservatory 
but of the red room, blue room, silver room, gold 
room, mirrored room, and also the ‘‘nest”), one 
would naturally suppose that Mr. Gray would seek 
to gratify his yearning for pleasure by breakfasting 
in the “ nest.” 

To his credit be it said he did think of it, but then 
it was such an old story that he dismissed it, and 
his mind being very fertile in ideas this fine morn- 
ing, he hit upon the very choice idea of breakfasting 
on the lawn in front of the conservatory. 

He touched a bell. His valet entered. 

“ Send Stephens here,” said Gray. 

The valet retired and returned almost immediately 
with Stephens. Stephens was his steward. 

“ Stephens,” said Gray, “ I will breakfast on the 
lawn in front of the conservatory to-day at one 
o’clock. Twelve covers and, Stephens, have a light 
blue canopy over the table.” 

Stephens bowed and was about to retire when 
Gray spoke again. 

“ Stephens,” pointing towards the window, “ what 
kind of a day is it? ” 

“ It is a beautiful day, sir.” 

“ Then see that we breakfast in a manner worthy 
of the day;” and Stephens bowed and retired. 

Then Gray ate a roll, drank a cup of coffee, dressed 
and went out into the highways and byways of the 


272 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


millionaires to bid such of them as would to the 
number of twelve to his breakfast. 

Mr. Gray’s impromptu, informal breakfast on the 
lawn was a beautiful sight. 

The table was beautifully furnished with silver 
and china and garnished with flowers ; in the centre 
of the table which was round, there was a large 
glass basin partly fllled with water. There was a 
glass cover over it. The basin was so arranged that 
the guests could see into it, and when they did look 
into it, they saw half a dozen gold fish, three turtles 
and five small water snakes who glided about the 
margin of the basin or swam gracefully in the 
water. 

This was one of Stephens’s surprises, the frequent 
springing of which relieved the tedium of the ten 
times millionaire’s existence and made Stephens in- 
valuable. 

‘‘ What would I be without Stephens? ” Gray would 
often say with a sigh. 

Perhaps we are in error in not first noticing the 
peoifle who graced the table. As simple peoj^le we 
Avould be perfectly right in discussing the evidences 
of wealth surrounding the table before them, but as 
people with an api^endage of a million dollars or more 
we should notice them before all else, at least while 
they and their million or more remain together, so 
we will do our best to make amends. 

There were sis: from fair-looliing to very pretty 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 2t3 

young ladies in the party, dressed in the prettiest of 
gay spring attire, and there were six fine-looking, 
exceptionally well-dressed young men. 

Over the party and over the table and over the 
portion of the lawn occupied by the party, was a 
canopy of blue silk, trimmed with white lace and 
ribbons. 

The ladies, their j)retty toilets, the table, its fur- 
nishings, the flowers, the greensward and the canopy 
with its pretty ribbons fluttering in the breeze, 
taken together made a most beautiful picture. 

Each of the guests was accompanied by a trained 
dog of the purest breed. These beautiful creatures 
lay around the table in picturesque attitudes. 

There was plenty to eat— soups, fish, game, fruits, 
confectionery, but the guests were not hungry. 

There was plenty to drink; wines of all kinds, but 
the guests were not thirsty. Still they did drink 
just for want of something better to do,” as pretty 
Miss Rimmel said. 

When did you get that bay I saw you riding 
yesterday, Mr. Wyant? ” asked Kitty Benton. 

“Did you like him?” asked Wyant. 

“ Yes,” answered Miss Benton, “ I think he is just 
sweet.” 

“ Do you really? Then he’s yours,” said Wyant as 
he sipped a glass of wine. “ I will send him to your 
stable to-morrow morning and if you will be so kind 
I will accompany you the first time you mount him.” 

i8 


274 THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 

“O Mr. Wyant,” said Miss Benton, clasping her 
hands, “ you are just lovely.” 

Isn’t he though? ” said Carl Hawton. 

Any more at the same price? ” asked Lillie Hall, 
laughing. 

Do you give any discount on that price? ” asked 
Gray. 

‘^Now, I think you are all a lot of jealous crea- 
tures,” said Kitty; ^‘but never mind, Mr. Wyant, I 
will be in the saddle to-morrow at four.” 

‘AVho’s that fellow ‘that Grace Kolter is en- 
gaged to?” asked Tom Wilson. ^‘Does anybody 
know?” 

“Yes, I know,” said Violet Lee. “He’s from 
Wyanto, his father is in the local board of directory 
out there.” 

“What is he worth?” asked four or five of the 
guests together. 

“Oh, very little,” said Violet; “about half a 
million.” 

“Half a million?” said George Jackson. “Why 
he’s away low down.” 

“ The girl’s a fool,” said Gray. 

“ She ahvays was,” said Kitty. 

“ I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” said Violet. “ Let 
us try whose dog is best trained at catching meat.” 

“ Good! ” chorused the guests. 

“ Here, Flint,” said Violet. 

A beautiful dog stood beside her. She picked up 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 2^5 

a sqnab in her fingers and threw it into the air; the 
dog caught it and brought it to her. 

Eat it, yon fool,” she said ; and the dog ate it. 

Then the other guests began throwing birds and 
parts of chickens and other meats to the dogs who 
scrambled after them in a way which entertained the 
guests mightily. 

Miss Kitty’s dog missed a bird which she threw. In 
a moment her merriment was changed to rage. 

Gome here,” she cried. 

The poor brute came skulking to her feet. 

She unfastened a silver handled whip or scorpion 
from her girdle. 

‘‘Take that, you nasty brute,” she cried. Then 
she plied the lash with a vigor and cruelty that was 
strange to see, while the poor beast lay submissively 
at her feet pleading with its beautiful eyes for mercy. 

She stopjied when her breath was exhausted. 
Then kicking the prostrate animal, she exclaimed, 
“Get away, you nasty thing, I will have Williams 
give you a good beating when we get home.” 

“ Are you tired, dear? ” said Violet, sympatheti- 
cally. “I wouldn’t whip him if I were you. I 
always get Thompson to beat Jess.” 

“Hillo! what is this coming down the Boule- 
vard?” said Wyant. 

The guests looked up the road and saw a body of 
men marching in a cloud of dust. 

“ It’s only a squad of laborers,” said Gray. 


276 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


I’ll tell you wliat will be fun. Let us toss meat 
to these fellows and see if they can catch as well as 
dogs,” said Jackson. 

‘‘ Good, so we will,” said several of the party. 

Meanwhile the squad of laborers advanced rapidly. 
There were about fifty of them. They were dressed 
in a coarse cloth of a dirty brown color. On the 
breast of each man’s coat were stencilled two num- 
bers, first his individual number, and under that 
the section to which he belonged. They marched 
four abreast. 

They were a hungry, cadaverous lot of creatures, 
with a hopeless, unhappy expression of countenance. 

The ladies were somewhat shocked and awed by 
the sight of these unhappy mortals, as they marched 
down the Boulevard looking eagerly and hungrily 
at the food on the tables. 

They were accompanied by two armed overseers 
or sergeants. 

As the squad came opposite to the canopy, Gray 
called out: 

Sergeant, come here.” 

“Halt! ” said the Sergeant. 

The squad halted. 

The sergeant walked to the table and saluted Gray. 

“ Who are these men? ” said Gray. 

“ They are a squad of section 96,” said the ser- 
geant. 

“ AVhere are you taking them? ” aslved Gray. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


277 


The sergeant answered: ‘‘To the river grain yard 
at Eastside.” 

“Well,” said Gray, “we want to see if they are 
any good for a scramble.” 

“But,” the sergeant remonstrated, “the colonel 
gave me orders to ” 

“ I’m giving orders now,” said Gray angrily, “ so 
order them to break ranks and catch what they can.” 

“ Break ranks,” ordered the sergeant. 

The compact body instantly broke into a number 
of separate individuals. 

“ Here, you fellows,” said Gray; “ we are going to 
give you something to eat. Now, see who can 
catch. Whoop, here goes,” and he threw a half 
chicken into the crowd. 

Instantly there was a scrambling that was inde- 
scribable. The men rushed together, crowded, scram- 
bled and struggled. The man who caught the 
chicken placed it to his mouth and began eating. 
In a second twenty hands were trying to tear it 
away from him. 

He held it to his mouth and ate it ravenously. 
Fragments were torn off and swallowed by the strug- 
gling men until the chicken had all disappeared. 

Meanwhile the guests were clapj)ing their hands 
and cheering the men on. Then each of the guests 
began throwing various kinds of food to the laborers. 

Here a chicken was thrown by one of the guests 
and caught by one of the laborers. Instantly half a 


278 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


dozen hands would snatch at it and it would be torn 
to shreds and devoured almost in a moment. 

Then a duck would be thrown in such a way as 
to hit one of the struggling men. Then there would 
be a rush for the man who caught it. 

Truly it was a merry scramble and it was a new 
diversion for these pleasure-surfeited gentlemen and 
ladies. 

It was entertaining; it was amusing; it was almost 
exciting. 

Some of the guests whose sole occupation for 
years had been yawning at intervals of five and ten 
minutes, were so well entertained that they forgot 
to yawn — yes, even looked interested. 

Many who had not for years allowed their en- 
slaved countenances more than the liberty of a smile 
or <i sneer shook off the trammels of their unnatural 
existence and actually broke out into a laugh. 

They even became merry and familiar with one 
another. They let fall the mask of artificiality be- 
hind which they moved and acted like meu and 
women who had been betrayed into throwing off the 
awful unnaturalness of their daily life by the too 
free use of the wine cup. 

They were intoxicated not only with wine, but 
Avith excitement. 

Here was an amusement such as they had never 
seen. It was fresh and it acted as a relish on their 
pleasure-satiated appetites. 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


279 


Here was an amusement that was new for these 
ladies and gentlemen who looked with languid in- 
terest upon horse-racing, yachting, and even pugilism 
and dog-fighting. The utmost skill displayed in 
games had ceased to interest this most unhappy 
circle of society. 

But here was suddenly discovered an amusement 
that fairly bristled with variety of action and 
strange surprises. 

It was actually exciting. 

It was, however, the excitement of the arena, the 
arousing of that uncommendable element in man’s 
nature which causes patrons of gladiatorial combats 
to become fiercely happy at the sight of blood. 

And, strangest of all, these men and women actu- 
ally became hungry. This fresh amusement gave 
them appetites for food. 

In the intervals of throwing meat, they ate mor- 
sels of food and enjoyed it even as the hungry enjoy 
food — a sensation they had not experienced in many 
a day. They drank their wine and enjoyed that also. 

They were merry and excited and fiercely happy. 

Eat, drink and be merry, ladies and gentlemen, 
for this is your last meal. 

Tlie guests kept tossing meats and vegetables of 
all kinds and the laborers kept scrambling for them, 
but in a few minutes the table was cleared. 

Bring more,” cried Gray. ‘‘ Instantly,” he added, 
and the waiters ran to fulfil the order. 


m 


THE HEIGN of selfishness. 


The waiters knew that Gray meant instantly ” 
and they returned in a way that pleased him. 

They brought chickens, ducks, birds and joints. 
They brought entrees, they brought roasts, they 
brought vegetables, they brought desserts. Every- 
thing they brought was flung to the laborers, fought 
for, devoured or trampled under foot. 

This sui)ply was soon exhausted. 

‘‘ Bring more,” cried Gray. 

“ There is no more cooked,” whispered the waiter. 

“ Bring the raw meat, then,” shouted Gray. All 
you have ! ” 

The waiters brought the raw meat, steaks, chops, 
chickens, game and birds; they were each and all 
thrown to the men, seized, torn into fragments with 
hands and teeth, and devoured. 

Somebody threw a bottle of wine and the example 
was immediately followed by others. 

Bottles were tossed to the laborers — some empty, 
some partly filled, some full. Most of the bottles 
were caught by the laborers and were broken. The 
glass was crushed under the feet of the men. 

When a laborer caught a bottle he broke off the 
head, thrust the jagged neck into his mouth and 
poured the liquor down his throat. Sometimes the 
bottle would be snatched from him before he had 
finished it ; then there would be a scuffle or a fight. 

This was intensely amusing to Gray’s guests and 
they frequently paused in their bottle tossing to 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


281 


watch the men (sometimes four or five of them) 
with lacerated hands and faces streaming with blood, 
fighting over a bottle. 

Never was rare old wine and liquor treated as 
these were treated. Port, sherry, champagne and 
brandy, whiskeys and cordials were thrown among 
the men. 

It was not long before the effect of the wine began 
to show itself among the men. They became noisy ; 
until now they had been almost noiseless. 

It was a singular sight to see these men struggling 
with one another scarcely uttering a word. 

Bitter experience had taught them that a loud 
word uttered in the presence of their overseers or 
officers brought upon the offenders swift and cruel 
punishment. 

These broken-spirited men had wrestled, struggled 
and fought like tigers, and the only sound heard by 
the guests was a sort of hoarse muttering and hard 
breathing which sometimes sounded like the growl- 
ing of wild beasts. 

Only once or twice some of the laborers had 
shrieked out in agony when they were being bitten 
or an arm or leg was wrenched. Then they would 
forget everything and shriek out. This was both 
startling and amusing to the guests. 

Until the wine began to affect them, the laborers 
had remained at a respectful distance. Not one of 
them had ventured beyond the walk. 


282 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


They seemed to regard the green lawn as danger- 
ous and in their wrestlings and struggling they did 
not even so much as place one foot on the grass. 
For the most part they kept on the outer edge of the 
foot path. 

But, now, they seemed to be emboldened by in- 
toxicants and ventured nearer and nearer the edge 
of the lawn. One man in an attempt to catch a bot- 
tle placed his foot almost on the green. This ex- 
cited the anger of Gray. 

‘‘Get off the lawn,” he roared. “Get off, you 
scoundrel; take that.” And he flung a bottle of 
champagne full at his head. 

The man dodged it and it was caught by the man 
behind him. 

Here was a new variation of this highly seasoned 
sport, and the guests quickly adopted that method 
of amusing themselves. 

Now, instead of tossing the liquor to the men, 
they pelted them with the bottles. 

Each guest would single out some man and throw 
a bottle at his head; generally the men caught them, 
but some of them struck their mark and many of 
the men were badly cut and bruised. 

Tlie laborers were now a horrible-looking group. 
Unkempt and ragged as they were, many of them 
had their faces, hands and arms slashed and bleed- 
ing, and even those who were not cut were smeared 
with blood from contact with the wounded. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


283 


Some had staunched the flow of blood by binding 
their wounds and cuts with pieces of rag. 

After a time some of these really terrible-looking 
men became so much under the influence of liquor 
that they were almost boisterous. 

The grotesque movements and incoherent talk of 
these men was very amusing to the guests. But 
the volume of sound gradually increased from a low 
murmur to a proportion which would have been 
alarming to most people, but the f iin-loving guests 
felt so secure that the thought of danger never en- 
tered their delicately perfumed heads. 

Such a thing as an assault on a director or even 
a menace by an employee of the company had not 
been heard of for years. The punishment was so 
swift that it was almost like suicide to attempt 
either. 

Circled as they were by all sorts of protection, 
the guests paid no heed to the ominous growling of 
the laborers. It even amused them just as they 
might have been amused by the growling of a safely 
caged lion whom they had roused. 

What was there to fear in these miserable slaves? 
for they were nothing less. They were utterly de- 
pendent on the company for the work by which 
they earned their bread, and if they were dismissed 
from the comp'any’s works, what could they do? 
They could not find work elsewhere. 

Their work was the hardest for the longest hours 


284 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


and for tlie j)oorest pay. With their pay they could 
scarce purchase enough of the coarsest food to keep 
them alive. 

They had but a few hours of sleep ; they generally 
had long distances to walk to their work ; and steady, 
ceaseless and monotonous labor it was. 

Thousands were driven mad by the monotony and 
severity of their labor, for many were men of intelli- 
gence and education. 

In the breast of nearly every one of the laborers 
there was a feeling of great and cruel wrong, and in 
their hearts there smouldered a never-ceasing desire 
for revenge. 

They scarcely hoped for a bettering of their con- 
dition, but they longed for revenge. 

They lived in wretched tenements, crowded to- 
gether like cattle in an unhealthy atmosphere. 
They suffered from cold in winter and from heat 
in summer. They suffered from lack of food at all 
times. They saw their wives and children ailing, 
sickening and dying for lack of food, for lack of 
clothes, for lack of air, for lack of warmth, for lack 
of tlie most common material needs. 

Under such circumstances it can hardly be called 
exaggeration to say they were desperate. They 
hardly cared what became of them. They could 
scarcely be worse off. 

Such were the men who now stood before the 
guests struggling with one another for bottles of 


THE REIGJ^ OF SELFISHNESS. 


285 


wine, and already under the influence of strong 
drink. 

One of the ladies threw a bottle of champagne, but 
with such an unsteady hand that it fell on the lawn 
three or four feet from the foot path. 

One of the men rushed for it, stoojoed forward 
and was about to grasp it when Gray shouted at 
him, 

‘‘ Get out of that, you hound,” at the same instant 
he flung a large, heavy bottle at the man. It struck 
him on the head. 

It broke into fragments — the man fell senseless on 
his face with the red wine spattered over his head 
and shoulders. 

A moment of deathless silence followed. Then 
the voices of the laborers and the guests mingled in 
an involuntary cry of horror. 

A companion of the fallen man (a man of large 
stature) ran to his assistance. 

You scoundrel, how dare you! ” cried Gray, and 
at the same instant he produced a revolver and fired 
two shots at the advancing laborer. 

The laborer uttered a yell, jumped into the air, 
and fell in a heap on the insensible man. 

With a cry that was horrible in its menacing sig- 
nificance the whole group of laborers rushed forward 
as with one impulse. 

In a moment the table was surrounded and down 
it went with a crash. Crash went the chairs and 


286 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


crash went the dishes, and down went the guests as 
if they were so much grass. 

Fragments of the table, chairs and even crockery 
became weapons in the hands of the infuriated la- 
borers. But as weapons they were needless, for the 
weapon which the laborers did use was their feet. 
They simply knocked the guests down and trampled 
them under their feet. 

The women shrieked and the men swore, but only 
for a moment were their voices heard. 

The laborers kicked, stamped and trampled the 
guests until every sign of life and semblance of hu- 
manity was trampled out of the gay party Avhich a 
moment before was insolently laughing at them. 

Then the laborers paused and looked at their 
work; it was thoroughly done. There was not a 
sign of life in all of that gay party. 

There they lay dead under the torn fluttering 
canopy, under the litter of broken furniture and 
dishes, dressed in their beautiful flnery, with faces 
and bodies crushed and blood-stained and flattened, 
covered with fragments of tables, chairs and dishes 
and food. 

Many of the dogs, too, who had faithfully stood 
by their masters and mistresses had their lives 
trampled out of them by the infuriated laborers. 

Then the laborers turned to the cottage with a 
savage yell; they rushed up to it and into it. They 
ran through the building seeking the i)roi)rietor, 


THE REIGN OE SELFISHNESS. 287 

patrons and the servants, but they had one and all 
lied the moment the attack was made. 

The house was deserted. 

Then the laborers began their revels. They went 
into the cellar and carried up armfuls and basket- 
fuls of the finest wines and liquors, and drank them 
as they ran from room to room. 

They poured wines on the elegant carpets and 
over the furniture and threw the bottles through 
mirrors and windows. 

One group took possession of the “ nest ” and as 
they finished each bottle they threw it through the 
window. 

Rich hangings were torn down ; carpets torn up ; 
furniture was smashed, carried into the parlor, 
heaped up, and then they set fire to the house. 

In a few minutes the heat of the rooms became 
unbearable. The fire spread rapidly. The laborers 
seized the dead bodies of Mr. Gray and his party 
and hurled them into the blazing building. 

In the upper part of the house were laborers over- 
come by liquor, some utterly unconscious, others 
sufficiently awake to realize their danger. Some of 
them dropped out of windows, others were overtaken 
by the flames. 

In the mean time the laborers kept up a perfect 
pandemonium of yelling intermingled with savage 
jests. 

Then appeared to the south a cloud of dust roll- 


288 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


ing up the Boulevard. One of the laborers noticed 
it. 

“ Soldiers ! ” he cried. 

The laborers became silent in a moment. Not a 
sound could now be heard save the roaring of the 
fire. 

They said not a word, but with a common impulse 
scattered and ran in various directions. 

The cottage was burned to the ground. 

The next day at five o’clock in the afternoon, all 
of the laborers who had survived the fire, were led 
out into a square and in the jiresence of thousands 
of their companions, killed in a most cruel manner. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


289 


CHAPTER XXXV. 

WAS THE COMPANY JUSTIFIED? 

The company acquired tlie title to the several 
blocks leading to its main depot. These blocks were 
occupied by stores and dwellings ; they were speedily 
changed into store-houses. 

A strange feature about these store-houses was the 
system of ventilation which the company adopted 
for the purification of the atmosj3here. 

The windows were heavily barred, and from each 
window projected twenty iron pipes all pointed 
toward the street at various angles. Some pointed 
down the street, some up. Those at the top pointed 
into the street. 

These pipes were less than one inch in diameter, 
and some people said they looked like rifle barrels. 

It was regarded as a decided novelty in ventilation 
and much curiosity was expressed as to its method, 
but the company would allow no one to examine its 
workings. 

The awful tragedy at the riverside cottage forced 
an issue between the people and the company. The 
people felt that the tyranny of the company was in- 
tolerable. Moreover, there had been a number of 
outrages perpetrated by the directors. 

19 


290 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


There was nothing left but revolt. 

This was the final decision of the most intelligent 
and thoughtful men in the League. It meant the 
final reluctant determination of law-abiding men. 

“We must either destroy the company, or the 
company will destroy us,” said John Hoe, the presi- 
dent of the League. 

The meetings were crowded. They were orderly, 
and the measures proposed were calmly discussed. 

Nearly every inhabitant was enrolled. 

Every precaution was taken to keep their deliber- 
ation from the company, and to keep its members 
free from its influence. 

After long deliberation a plan of oi)erations was 
adopted. The laborers were to meet on a certain 
day (to be announced the night before) at a point 
near the company’s main office, to suddenly sur- 
round and capture the building, and to make pris- 
oners of the president and directors; then to give 
them the choice of dissolution of the corporation or 
death. 

Then to hasten to the seat of government, capture 
the Capitol and insist upon the repeal of the com- 
pany’s charter. 

This was the general outline of a wild and most 
impractical plan of relief. 

It was desperate, but they could devise no better. 
‘‘ There is but little chance of success, but we must 
do something,” said one of the members. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


291 


The League ” was divided into councils, and each 
council had a civil and military head. The councils 
made frequent excursions into the country at night, 
where they were thoroughly drilled. 

Each man in some mysterious way procured for 
himself fire-arms, many also had swords and other 
weapons. 

In an incredibly short space of time, the general 
or military commander of the League ” reported to 
the president and council that he had one hundred 
thousand men drilled and equipped and ready for 
action. Minute calculations were made and it was 
resolved to strike the blow. 

It is perhaps needless to remark that all of the 
doings and plans of the League ” were daily re- 
ported to the company. It was strange, however, 
that the company seemed to make no preparations 
to defend itself. 

The depot or main office was guarded by a few 
men, but there was no sign of military force. 

The 10th of May was one of nature’s fairest days, 
everything seemed bathed in joyous sunlight. A 
Sabbath calm rested on the beautiful city and its 
doomed inhabitants. 

It was a calm which preceded a most awful 
tragedy. 

The president of the company sat in one of the 
rooms of the company’s depot. He faced the 
wi;ndow which commanded a view of the great 


292 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


avenue which led directly to the entrance of the 
depot. 

Beside him was a mahogany table studded with 
rows of small white buttons similar to those used in 
electric call bells. 

Each button was numbered and the place with 
Avhich it communicated printed upon the table. 

There were twelve other men in the room, three of 
whom from time to time inspected certain wires at- 
tached to the wall running down through the floor. 

The president looked at his watch. It wanted 
five minutes of twelve o’clock. 

Are they all in working order?” said he to one 
of the men. 

“ They are, your excellency,” replied the man. 

“ Sure? ” asked the president in a menacing voice. 

“ Certain,” said the man. 

“Well, we shall reduce the membership of the 
‘League’ somewhat,” said the president with a vi- 
cious smile as he glanced at the table. “ Tell Brown 
to report the moment they appear.” 

A man sent the message, and reported “ All right.” 

“ Two minutes more,” said the president glancing 
at his watch, “and our dear fellow-citizens will have 
a most x)alpable i)roof of the impregnability of our 
headquarters.” 

“ If there should be a misconnection,” said one of 
the directors nervously. 

“ There are no ‘ if s ’ about this j I have given it my 


1?HE RElGiSr OE" SELFISHNESS. 293 

personal attention,” interrupted tlie president im- 
patiently. 

“ It makes me shudder to think of it,” said 
another. 

Then go out amongst those vagabonds and you 
won’t shudder long,” answered the president quickly. 
‘‘We are acting in self-defence. The company or 
the people must be master, and inside of ten min- 
utes the question will be settled forever.” 

The man at the telephone spoke, “ Johnson reports 
that they are formed in solid ranks in Eider Street 
and for a mile down the avenue. The leader is ad- 
dressing them. He says. As soon as you reach the 
door, cut a hole, force in a dynamite cartridgej and 
blow it off its hinges. He says to kill no one if they 
surrender.” 

“Very kind,” said the president with a grim 
smile. 

“Word is passed along the line commanding ab- 
solute silence.” 

“ The order is given to march,” said the man at the 
telephone, “ they are coming.” 

“Four minutes behind time,” said the president 
contemptuously; “those fellows have no regard for 
time.” 

A distant muffled sound was heard. 

“ The head of the line has almost reached the cor- 
ner of Eider Street,” said the man at the telephone. 

The muffled sound became more audible. 


294 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Suddenly at the corner of Rider Street and Depot 
Avenue, a line of men wheeled into sight, marching 
with military j)recision. Then another and another, 
and almost in a twinkling, from curb to curb, the 
avenue was black with men. Not a word was 
spoken. No sound was heard save the momentarily 
increasing sound of tramping feet. 

On they came, the front line carrying axes and 
hatchets, behind them came rank upon rank of men 
with all kinds of arms. 

There was nothing military about them save their 
determined looks, solid ranks, and steady, even tread. 

Dogged determination was depicted on every face. 

No sound but their tread came from the men. 
No sound whatever came from the depot. 

The president kept his seat and calmly watched 
their approach. 

The other occupants of the room watched the 
approach with bated breath. 

The silence in the room was awful, it was horrible. 

The perspiration stood out on the foreheads of 
every one in the room except the president. About 
him there was not the slightest tremor of nervousness. 

The conspirators reached the middle of the block, 
a dark compact mass of human beings, and the depot 
gave forth no evidence of life. 

They must have escaped,” whispered one com- 
mander to another. 

Impossible,” he replied in a low tone. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


295 


“ We will soon know,” said the first. 

The head of the line had now reached the corner 
of the street opposite the dej)ot door. 

All down the street a solid mass of men moving 
in unison as though controlled by one will. 

They have crossed the street,” said the man at 
the telephone. 

Suddenly over the muffled sound of tramping feet 
clear and sharp rang out the word, Halt.” Then 
down the street each in quick succession came the 
command, Halt ! ” Halt ! ” Halt ! ” Halt ! ” 
‘‘Halt! ” until the word tapered away into a mere 
echo in the distance. 

And the column ceased to move forward. 

The column became motionless save here and 
there a slight movement of some man who s^joke to 
his comrade or moved his gun. 

The silence became ominous. 

The president was sitting quietly in his seat. 
Those in the room were watching him anxiously. 

One of the men in a scarcely audible voice said, 
“ When will you ” 

The president turned to him with a peculiar smile. 
“ They have done nothing wrong yet, we are not the 
aggressors, you know,” he said. 

“The other column have reached the western 
door,” said the man at the telephone. 

Again silence broken only by a low hum of voices. 

Out of the deadly silence rose a voice clear and 


296 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


strong, “Break down the doors.” In a moment 
there was a discordant din of hammers and axes, 
beating at the doors. The sound rang through the 
building and resounded in the street. 

Then there arose from the street a cheer, round, 
full and sonorous, the first that had been heard 
in the city for many weary days. There is a gran- 
deur in a cheer coming from a compact body of 
men. 

It is exhilarating, grand, beautiful. It is unlike 
any other earthly sound. It is thrilling. 

Again and again it was taken up by the column 
and down along the line it travelled until it died 
away in the distance. 

It seemed like a resonant echo of the gladiatorial 
cry of imperial Kome, “ 0 Cmsar, we who are about 
to die, salute you.” 

The scene was impressive. The sound sublime. 

Their last cheer had died away and the discordant 
sound of the axes was renewed. 

The president turned to the directors with a 
meaning smile, “ That is the signal,” he said. 

There was not a dry eye in the company but his. 
Each man was awed by the terrible import of the 
moment. 

The president turned towards the table and placed 
the index finger of each band on a button. 

“ For God’s sake don’t do it,” cried one of the di- 
rectors, rushing forward and seizing his arm. There 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 29t 

was a general movement forward, but no other word 
was uttered. 

The president shook off tlie hand, rose, looked 
contemptuously at the director, and said, You 
fool, leave the room.” 

The man looked imploringly at him. 

He pointed towards the door and the man went 
out. 

The president resumed his seat. 

The sounds of the axes continued from time to 
time, drowned by the cheers from the column. 

The president turned towards the company, “ Are 
there any others here with delicate nerves? ” he said 
with a sneer. If so, they had better leave now.” 

No one spoke. 

The president turned towards the table, placed the 
index finger of each hand on a button. 

He glanced out of the window. The men were 
packed together as close as they could stand. 

A young man close to the corner cried out, Three 
cheers for the League, hip, hip ” 

He never finished the sentence. 

The president pressed two of the buttons. There 
was a sharp report as of a thousand rifles. The 
president and directors watched the effect. 

All down the line on the sides nearest the houses 
men were seen to throw up their arms, then sink 
down in a heap. The air was filled with cries, 
groans and screams. 


298 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


The president placed his lingers on the buttons 
again and a line of men the length of the block 
threw lip their arms and sank down on the ground. 

Again the president’s fingers pressed the buttons 
and again the same scene was enacted. 

Now ensued a scene indescribable in its horror. 

The president’s fingers literally danced over the 
buttons as if they were keys of a piano and he 
played a song of death, and men sank like grass un- 
der the scythe; down they fell screaming, groaning 
and cursing. 

The air was filled with the shrieks of the wounded 
and dying. A panic seized those who were left 
standing. They turned to fly, they scrambled over 
the prostrate bodies of their comrades, pushing and 
struggling and fighting with one another like mad- 
men in their efforts to get away. 

Now they were leaping over the fallen bodies, or 
climbing over them, then down amongst the dead, 
now falling and being trampled upon, again regain- 
ing their feet only to be met by the murderous bul- 
lets pouring like hail out of the so-called ventilators 
of the company’s store-houses. 

At each pressure of the president’s fingers the 
ranks of the struggling fleeing men became thinner 
and the heaps of the wounded and dead larger. 

From every window in the store houses and depot 
the ventilators poured death upon the fleeing 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 299 

wretches and riddled the bodies of both the quick 
and the dead. 

Inside of five minutes the president ceased plying 
his fingers over the buttons. 

The man at the telephone had announced, They 
are all down. There is not a man standing in front* 
of the depot, or on any of the streets leading 
to it.” • 

The president and directors looked out of the 
windows. Most of them shut their eyes and covered 
their ears. 

The sights which met their gaze and the sounds 
rising to their ears were too horrible for mortal 
contemplation. 

Which were more horrible, the sounds or the 
sights, no one could tell. It was a nightmare which 
haunted the spectators for many a day. 

Down on the pavement everywhere surrounding 
the depot lay men by the thousand, wounded, dy- 
ing or dead. In some places they were heaped 
upon one another three, four and five deep; in 
others individuals lay stiff and stark on the ground. 

They were in every conceivable attitude. 

Many were crawling away. 

Some of the heaps of dead men were moving 
strangely, apparently without cause. This move- 
ment was caused by the wounded men in the heaps 
tiyihg to extricate themselves and get from under 
their dead comrades. 


300 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


The cries, moaning, groans, and shrieks of the 
Avonnded were appalling. 

Some were crying for water, others were screaming 
that their dead comrades were crushing or smoth- 
ering them ; some were shrieking with jiain, others 
begging for mercy. 

Here a man was crawling away with one or both 
arms hanging useless by his side; here a man 
dragging one useless leg after him, again a man with 
blood on his face, another covered with blood. 

There are some trying to escape,” said Sidney 
Griffin, pointing to about a dozen men who were 
crawling or staggering towards Hider Street. 

Let them go,” said the president, “ I don’t care 
to kill them, I only want to show them what we can 
do, that we are masters. Tell Mr. Clifton to have 
the wounded carried to the hospital, do everything 
possible and spare no expense. Have the dead re- 
moved to the empty store-houses on east side. Let 
the friends have the bodies. Send word to the car 
penter shops to have five thousand neat black coffins 
made by noon to-morrow. Let it be announced that 
the company will bury the dead at its own expense. 

‘‘Have the wounded and dead counted at once, 
and rejiort full particulars. Wire the facts in full 
to every city in the country. Gentlemen, we have 
finished our business in this room, let us retire. 

“Mr. Grant, please have the room put in order 
and have it locked up until we need it again. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


301 


‘‘I congratulate you on your invention, it is a 
great success, good afternoon.’’ 

About five o’clock that afternoon all of the dead 

♦ 

and wounded were removed. The blood was washed 
from the streets. Two thousand men were in prison 
under charge of conspiracy. 

The ringleaders were sentenced to hard labor for 
long periods. The less active members were pun- 
ished in lesser degrees (the company had an accurate 
description or account of the part each prominent 
member had taken in the League). Many were sen- 
tenced to distant parts of the country and the 
majority were held under suspended sentences for 
good behavior. 


302 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XXXVI. 

HORACE TASCOTT WAS THE FIRST VICTIM. 

The people were conquered. They were subdued. 
They were cowed. They went about their work sul- 
lenly. 

Thousands of men and women, believing all hope 
of a better condition was ended, took their own lives. 

Many of the messages they left were inexpressibly 
sad; many were pathetic. All spoke hopelessly of 
the dreary world they were leaving. 

Scarce one spoke of the vast uncertainty into 
which they were plunging. 

These foolish people set themselves up as prophets 
of evil. They assumed to know the future. They 
prophesied the future by the light of the past. 

This is the safest guide to prophecy. But they 
left out of the consideration the important factor 
that in the world there are forces superior to man’s 
will. 

In the face of these forces the greatest of men are 
atoms. 

The world is for the people — for the whole people 
— and all the forces of the world, if left alone, work 
in the interest of the great majority. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


303 


The directory felt that they had gained a great 
victory and were inclined to punish the laborers for 
their disloyalty. 

The overseers in the different works were directed 
to enforce the strictest discipline. 

The president had prepared a schedule reducing 
the hours of labor and increasing the pay to such a 
degree as would have given the laborers many com- 
forts, but upon hearing of the intended outbreak, he 
said: 

‘‘ If they can find time and strength to plot and 
fight, they are not so badly off.” 

And the reforms were laid aside. 

When the directors of this great company had 
reached a point when they could defy all the engines 
of man to dislodge them, and when they felt them- 
selves invincible and their position imi)regnable, 
they unwittingly created that which sent their com- 
pany flying into atoms. 

It is a singular fact that the more money a spend- 
thrift has and the more he spends for foolish ex- 
travagances, the less he is willing to devote to uses; 
which are practical and useful. 

The extravagant man seems to grudge every penny 
which he is obliged to pay out for legitimate pur- 
poses and is willing to stoop to petty meanness to 
save trifles. 

When the revolt of the laborers gave the direc- 
tory an excuse for refusing to do anything in tho; 


304 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


way of ameliorating their condition either by in- 
creasing their wages or improving the sanitary con- 
dition of their workshops and homes, great numbers 
of the board looked upon the revolt as an iinmixed 
boon. 

This saved money, increased their dividends, and 
it placed the company on a more solid foundation 
than it had ever occupied before. 

The sanitary condition of the city was not good. 
The sewers in the laborers’ and factory quarters 
were neglected and allowed to get out of repair. 
The streets were not cleaned, except as far as the 
laborers could work at them in the evening after 
their day’s labors. 

The superintendents of the factories paid no at- 
tention to the sanitary condition of the workrooms 
nor to the health of the operatives. 

One superintendent suggested to Horton Mayhevv, 
one of the visiting directors, that certain improve- 
ments in his department, such as better ventilation 
and drainage, would add to the comfort and health 
of the working men and women. Mr. Mayliew 
answered thus: 

“ Superintendent, let me say this. You are here 
to look after the interests of the com^Dany, not of 
the laborers. The less expense you have in your 
dei3artment the larger will be your showing of 
profits at the end of each quarter, and the larger the 
profits the more the company will think of you.” 


THE EEIGN OP .SELFISHNESS, 


305 


There was a good deal of sickness among the peo- 
ple, but the doctors had but little skill in combating 
disease. 

Tliere were several hospitals to which the sick 
were taken, but the laborers were afraid of these 
hosx)itals and they concealed their sick relatives and 
friends. 

There were whispers of horrible doings in the hos- 
pitals which caused the laborers to regard them with 
dread. 

One warm evening in June about a month after 
the revolt, a group of men and women stood around 
a bed upon which a laborer was lying. 

A child was holding a tallow candle the htful 
glare from which exaggerated the alarm and horror 
which was depicted on the faces of the grouj). 

The laborer was a man of about forty-five years of 
age, of muscular build. His shirt was open, and 
traced over his breast, shoulders and face were a 
series of livid, irregularly formed rings. 

The laborer was Horace Tascott. He had come 
home sick. He threw himself on his bed and almost 
immediately became unconscious. Shortly after, his 
wife noticed the small irregular rings forming over 
his face and body. She became alarmed and called 
in her neighbors. 

One of the laborers’ doctors was called. He was 
puzzled and admitted that he had never heard of 

any disease with symptoms such as Tascott’s. 

20 


306 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

He prescribed some experimental remedies and sat 
by the patient. He watched him through the whole 
night. From time to time through the night, the 
alarmed neighbors came to inquire as to the patient’s 
condition. 

As the sun rose, Tascott regained consciousness. 
The livid rings disappeared and he rapidly recovered 
and by eight o’clock he said to the doctor: ‘‘ I never 
felt better in my life.” 

Don’t you feel weak? ” asked the doctor. 

Tascott arose and after drawing a deep breath and 
stretching himself, said with a smile : 

Why, no, I don’t think I ever felt stronger.” 

“ I don’t understand it,” said the doctor. 

Tascott went to his shop and worked until late to 
make up for the time he had lost. He slept well 
that night. The next morning as he arose, he said 
to his wife: I feel very queerly.” 

What is the matter? ” she said. 

I don’t know,” he answered in a hesitating way; 
“ I — I’m hot and cold — and ” 

He fell back on the bed and in a few minutes the 
rings began again to appear on his face and body. 

The doctor was sent for and again experimented 
with good success, for by nightfall the patient was 
up and dressed and as he expressed it, ^‘stronger 
than ever.” 

Next day he worked until two o’clock. He then 
left his work and cunningly slipping out of the 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 30? 

workshop wandered iip into the part of the city 
where the directors lived. At midnight he returned 
and before morning he was dead. 

The next day twenty-five of the laborers in Tas- 
cott’s shop, were taken with the same disease. 

Then the contagion spread to other shops. 

A committee of the laborers’ doctors went to the 
directory. 

They had an interview with three of the directors 

Messrs. Mayhew, Griffin and Drier. 

These gentlemen were just starting on a pleasure 
trip, but they stopped long enough to hear what the 
doctors had to say. 

Well,” said Mayhew, who was a man of about 
thirty -five years of age, ‘‘what do you expect of 
us ? ” 

“We think,” answered Dr. Slocum, “that some- 
thing should be done to improve the sanitary condi- 
tion of the laborers’ quarters.” 

“ What is the matter with the sanitary condition 
of the laborers’ quarters ? ” asked Mayhew. 

“ The sewers are very much out of repair and the 
streets and houses need cleaning.” 

“Now, see here,” said Mayhew, “the company 
have no money to spend repairing sewers, and if 
they had it is useless expense, and as for the 
cleaning, let the laborers do that themselves.” 

“ They have no time,” said the doctor. 

“ They never have time for anything that may be 


308 THE REIGiT OP SELFISHNESS. 

Hseful,” said Mayhew; “but they have plenty of 
time to plot mischief and murder.” 

‘^But,” protested the doctor, ‘‘this disease may 
develop into an epidemic.” 

“Pooh!” said Mayhew, with a sneer. “We are 
not to be frightened by any bug-a-boo of that sort. 
If they want an epidemic down there they are wel- 
come to it, but for goodness’ sake don’t bother us 
about it.” 

“ Then you will do nothing ? ” asked the doctor. 

“ You have said it,” said Mayhew, “just as well as 
I could; w^e will do nothing.” 

The other directors laughed at this sally and 
they followed Mayhew to their carriage, leaving the 
doctors standing in the corridor. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


309 


CHAPTER XXXVIL 

THE LAWYER SENT NO BILL. 

A COMMISSION was appointed to take an account 
of the valuables found in Sinclair’s yacht. His 
whole belongings amounted to about $16,000,000. 

Leon was highly elated when he heard of the 
amount of money and felt justified in believing that 
he would receive from the commission nearly the 
whole of his father’s estate, with increase, which 
amounted in all to over $10,000,000. 

Mr. Hiton was non-committal, but both he and 
Col. Reed were radiant with the success of the pro- 
ceedings, and certainly both of these gentlemen had 
displayed great skill in conducting the case through 
all its stages ; and while they were pleased with the 
honors and eclat which its success had brought 
them, they also with equal skill laid their plans to 
secure some of the spoils. 

They looked on Leon as if he were a race horse 
whom they had entered and who had won the race 
through their jockeying. 

The commission after due deliberation made a re- 
port to the effect that as Sinclair had been guilty of 
the grossest misconduct in the management of the 


310 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Pelon estate, lie should surrender all of the estate 
and its increase, which the commission found to be 
something over $10,000,000. 

They further found that he should be punished 
by a fine of $5,000,000; that the remaining $1,000, - 

000 he could keep on condition of his leaving the 
country inside of ten days. 

General Sinclair had had enough experience with 
the directory and in two days he claimed his 
money, received it in gold, and started for foreign 
parts. 

The commissioners then announced that they 
would hear claims which might be presented against 
the remaining $10,000,000. 

Col. Reed showed how he had directly and indi- 
rectly expended many million dollars in securing 
the conviction of Sinclair and securing the money. 
He said that if the commission gave him the whole 
of the $10,000,000 it would not more than pay him 
for his trouble and expenses. ‘‘ But,” he said in an 
off-hand way, ‘‘I suppose the boy ought to have 
some of the money. 

‘‘Suppose you do this: give the boy $1,000,000, 
and I will take the rest. Pay Mr. Hiton and we will 
give Hiton Sinclair’s seat in the board of directors, 
and by the way, gentlemen,” he added, “ I would 
like to see you all at ‘ Starn Cliff,’ to-morrow, where 

1 propose to celebrate the victory ; and if any of you 
get back in a week, you will be lucky.” 


Me reign of selfishness. 311 

The next day the commissioners so reported, and 
Leon was notified that $1,000,000 was subject to his 
order. 

Leon was rendered speechless for some seconds 
when he heard how the money was disposed of, but 
after a little reflection he considered himself lucky 
to get anything. 

He called on Mr. Hiton and found that gentleman 
in the best of humor. 

“ Well, my boy,” he said, “ we pulled you through, 
didn’t we? ” 

“Yes,” said Leon, and with a wicked smile he 
added, “ have you a bill against me? ” 

Mr. Hiton looked surprised for a moment, then he 
noticed the smile on Leon’s face, and he burst into 
a hearty laugh as he said: 

“No, no, my boy, I have no bill against you this 
time. There are cases where lawyers don’t send 
bills ; this is one of them. Allow me to congratulate 
you on your finding so generous a lawyer.” 

“ What had I better do now? ” asked Leon. 

“Well, my boy,” said the lawyer, “how do you 
like the country? ” 

“ 1 don’t like it,” said Leon. 

“Now,” said Hiton, “if I didn’t like a place I 
would leave it. But, if I were you, I would turn 
my money into gold — gold, nothing else, and leave 
the country. I would leave inside of one week. 
Nobody knows what may happen or how long you 


312 


THE REIGN OE SELFISHNESS. 


can keep your money if you stay here, and working 
for a living is not pleasant, I believe.” 

Mr. Hiton gave Leon a meaning look as he finished. 
“ I understand,” said Leon, “ and I will do as you 
say.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


313 


CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

A FLIRTATION WHICH COST ONE MILLION DOLLARS. 

Leon did not leave Pactolus in a week nor in 
many months. He was kept dancing attendance on 
the different officers of the company day in and day 
out for weeks. Every day he had somewhere to go, 
some one to see, some one to wait for, and that 
some one generally disappointed him. In the mean 
time the plague had come upon the city. 

He was now seeking to have certain stock of the 
company (preferred or directors’ stock) transferred 
to him, but this business was surrounded by so much 
red tape that he thought he would never get through. 

Hiton assured him that it was all right and noth- 
ing was needed but the formal transfer on the books 
of the company. But the trouble was to get the 
formal transfer. 

Hiton also told him not to rest until the transfer 
was made, and Leon faithfully haunted the office of 
the company each day and waited as long as there 
was any prospect of doing anything. 

He went to the office on Monday to see a Mr. 
Weeks who was to be there at ten o’clock in the 
morning. He waited until twelve and was then told 


;14 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


that Mr. Weeks would probably not be there that 
day. 

‘‘ When can I see him? ” asked Leon. 

‘^Well,” said the clerk, ‘'you had better come 
again to-morrow at the same hour.” 

Leon came the next day at ten and was informed 
that Mr. AVeeks had been there unusually early and 
had gone for the day. 

“ Had I not better leave a note niakiim an appoint- 
ment? ” said Leon. 

“ Yes,” said the clerk, “ I think you had.” 

Leon left a polite note asking permission to see 
Mr. Weeks at ten o’clock the next morning or at 
such other time as Mr. AVeeks might name. 

The next day he called at nine o’clock and waited 
until noon. Then the clerk said to Leon : 

“ Mr. Cornhill was just in and said that Mr. AVeeks 
went to Claymere last night and will not return 
until to-morrow.” 

Leon was angry but he knew better than to give 
vent to his feelings in the office. He called on Mr. 
Hiton and exj)ressed his mind to that gentleman 
and wound up by asking, “ Is that the way to treat 
a fellow? ” 

“ I don’t think it is,” said Mr. Hiton smiling good- 
humoredly, “ but you have doubtless learned before 
this that these gentlemen don’t care much whether 
you like their manner of doing business or not.” 

“But,” complained Leon, “they ought to say 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


e315 


whether they will make the transfer or not, at once, 
instead of keeping me dancing attendance on them 
day after day without result.” 

There are lots of things that ought to be done 
and lots of things that ought not to be done,” said 
the lawyer, dryly. ‘‘But your business and my 
business is not to reform the world. Your business 
just now is to get hold of one million dollars in stock 
of the company, and then to turn that stock into 
gold. Is that so?” 

Leon nodded. 

“Well,” the lawyer went on, “if 1 were in your 
shoes, I should go there every day and every night 
for ten years if necessary, for, between you and me, 
a million dollars is worth working and waiting for. 
Now,” he added seriously, “take my advice and 
haunt that ofBce day and night until the stock is 
transferred to you, and then lose no time in turning 
it into gold.” 

Leon followed Mr. Hiton’s ad vie and haunted the 
office of the company, and after innumerable vexa- 
tions and delays, extending over six weeks, the 
transfer was made. 

Leon was jubilant, and as he was returning home 
with the certificates in his pocket, he met Millicent 
and Maud Holt returning home hot and tired after 
ministering to some of the stricken laborers’ families. 

“Well, Millie,” he said, “you don’t look well. 
What is the matter? ” 


316 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


There is nothing the matter with me,” said the 
girl, ‘^but I have been down in the laborers’ district 
and, Leon, the suffering among those people almost 
drives me wild.” 

‘‘Well, why do you go there, dear ?” said Leon, 
tenderly. “ You take too much risk and it wears 
you out; others should attend to that.” 

“ But others don’t and I must do what I can. It 
makes me heart-sick when I see how little I can do.” 

“Well, my girl, I fear for your health and your 
life,” said Leon as they entered Millie’s home. 
Then he looked into her resolute eyes as he said : 
“ But I see it is useless to try to turn my darling 
from her duty and I shall not try; but, dear, sup- 
pose we were parted now after all our trials ? ” 

“ Do you think we would be any happier if we 
fled from our duty here like cowards? ” she said 
earnestly. 

“iS'o, dear, I will not ask it; com 3 what may we 
will stay at our post of duty, — but I wish you would 
go away and leave me here.” 

Millicent’s answer was a sad smile as she shook 
her head. 

“ No, Leon,” she said pointing towards the labor- 
ers’ district, “ sickness and distress is there in greater 
portion than those people can bear, and though we 
turn our backs and shut our eyes it is still there, 
and knowing that, how could I be happy unless each 
day I do the little I can to mitigate the suffering? ” 


THE REiGN OF SELFISHNESS. SI'? 

Leon put liis forefinger under the chin of the earn- 
est face which was turned towards him, and raising 
it a little kissed the lips before Millicent knew what 
he intended. 

The girl was surprised and blushed scarlet as she 
started back. 

‘‘Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” she said, re- 
proachfully. 

‘'Do you know why I did that, Millie?” said 
Leon, smiling. 

“ Yes,” she said; “because you are foolish.” 

“ I suppose I am, but that isn’t the reason; Millie, 
I have good news; they transferred my stock to 
my name to-day.” 

“ Did they ? ” cried Millicent, clapping her hands. 
“ Did they ? Oh, I am so glad ! and my poor boy 
had so much trouble and had to wait so long.” 
Then putting her head one side coquettishly, she 
added: “ I take it back, you were not foolish.” 

For reply Leon lifted the coquettish head to his 
several times and when he let it go it was very rosy. 

And thus precious moments were passed and 
precious time was lost. Delicious moments they 
were and very costly. 

Thus these lovers chatted and laughed and kissed 
the afternoon away. 

They were three hours together — three hours of 
unalloyed happiness and they cost Leon one million 
dollars in gold. 


318 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS, 

Mr. Hiton had told him to lose no time in turning 
his stock into gold, and he fully intended to follow 
Mr. Hiton’s advice and would have done so had he 
not met Millicent, but after he met her all thought 
of business went to sleep. 

The next day he awoke with a terrible headache. 
He could not rise. He grew worse during the day 
and in the evening symptoms of the disease had 
developed themselves. 

For many days Leon was in a delirious condition 
and he awoke one day to find Millicent anxiously 
watching for his returning reason. 

Through weeks of i3ain, suffering, and delirium, 
Millicent nursed Leon until he recovered and grew 
strong and well. 

The girl was indeed hajjpy when she thought that 
the apprenticeship she had served among the suffer- 
ing laborers had given her skill as a nurse which 
she was now able to exercise in behalf of her affi- 
anced husband. 

When Leon arose pale and weak from his bed of 
sickness, the board of directors had fled and there 
was no way of having his stock changed into gold, 
and his stock each day became less valuable until 
finally it was almost worthless. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


319 


CHAPTER XXXIX. 

THE AFFLICTED LABORERS MOVED LIKE GHOSTS. 

The disease spread rapidly and in a week as- 
sumed the form of an epidemic. But the directors 
paid no attention to it; they were too busy either 
with their money-making or their pleasure-seeking. 

The directory quarter as it was called was in the 
upper part of the city. It was beautifully laid out 
and most of the houses had large gardens, many of 
them occupying a whole block. 

Director Miller was the possessor of one of these 
beautiful city gardens as they were called. 

On July 10th, his wife gave a garden party. The 
evening was warm and well suited to an out-door 
festival. 

There was the customary display of gorgeous 
lanterns and colors festooned about the garden and 
there were colored fountains and music. 

One of the guests, a young girl, in a spirit of fun 
slipped away from her companions and hid in a 
summer house. 

She was laughing to herself as she heard her 
friends inquiring for her. As her eyes became accus- 
tomed to the comparative darkness of the place, she 


320 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


saw something white on the opposite seat. As she 
gazed at it the object moved. Then she saw two 
glaring eyes and the object assumed the form of a 
man or a ghost. 

The girl gave a shriek. 

The object arose and moved to the door and stood 
in the doorway. 

The girl gazed at the figure in an ecstasy of terror; 
then with a shriek fell in a swoon. Guests came 
rushing to the door. 

They seized the intruder and dragged him to the 
light. He was a laborer, dressed in his night clothes. 
His face and neck were covered with red rings. 

His eyes Avere listless and he appeared to be dazed. 
As soon as his captors had brought him within 
range of the light, they released him with a cry of 
horror. 

He stood in their midst as rigid as a statue. 

The guests were hurrying from all parts of the 
garden and they crowded around staring at the 
strange figure. 

“ What is the matter ? ” 

‘‘ Who is it ? ” 

‘‘ What is he doing here ? ’’ 

‘‘ Hoav did he get in ? ” 

“ What is the matter with his face ? ” 

“ He must have some disease ? ” 

“ It’s the plague,” cried a doctor. 

Tliere was a cry of horror. In an instant the 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


321 


crowd broke up and scattered in every direction, 
leaving the man standing alone. 

The disease produced a remarkable effect on the 
sufferers. The poor wretches would get up in the 
night and steal away from their homes and, guided 
by some strange instinct, go straight to the direc- 
tors’ quarters. 

There they would wander into the summer houses 
or climb on to the piazzas and verandas. They 
would force their way into vestibules; they would 
lie upon the stoops. Oftentimes when the front 
doors were opened in the morning a stricken laborer 
would fall into the hall either dead or dying. 

Sometimes they got into cellars and by that means 
effected an entrance to the houses. Sometimes they 
were even found lying in the bedrooms of the 
directors. Wherever they went they carried the 
disease. 

These unfortunate wretches moved like ghosts. 
They uttered no sound. They seemed to be in a 
half unconscious condition. They made no resist- 
ance when apprehended and went wherever they 
were led or were directed. They could not be 
driven away. 

The directory were becoming alarmed at the 
progress the plague was making. Some of them 
suggested measures of relief. 

Mr. Hiton, now in the board, spoke earnestly in 
favor of helping the unfortunate laborers ; he 


322 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


recommended that the directory make an appro^ 
priation for the purpose of improving the laborers’ 
quarters. 

Other members seconded his suggestion, and 
warned the board of the danger of delay. 

There were three kinds of people who opposed 
action in the matter. There were those who would 
not hesitate to spend fifty thousand dollars on an 
evening’s entertainment, but who would fight like 
tigers against spending one hundred dollars for nec- 
essary repairs of the machinery in the company’s 
factories. These people even grudged the small 
sums needed to keep their own homes in repair. 

Their extravagance exhausted their vast incomes 
oftentimes long before dividends were payable. 

Another class were the money hoarders who hated 
to part with money for any purpose. 

Still another class Avere those who would have 
been willing to help the people had they not re- 
volted, but that episode was fresh in their minds 
and they refused to help such ‘‘ ingrates ” as they 
called the laborers. 

‘^The more they suffer,” said one of the latter, 

the less likely they will be to rebel against consti- 
tuted authority.” 

Another, speaking in the same spirit — a religious 
man by the way — said : 

“I regard this affliction as a judgment from 
Heaven, visited upon this wicked people, and I hope 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


323 


they may learn the lesson from it never again to 
resist the company or its rules.” 

Another gentleman observed: 

“ These jieople are ungrateful ; the more you do 
for them, the less they will thank you.” 

“Help to these i)eople would be like initting a 
premium on rebellion,” said Mr. Mayhew in the 
course of his speech. 

The measure was voted down. 

It was after this decision that the disease took 
the form which caused the afflicted laborers to steal 
away from their homes and invade the directory 
quarter of the city. It is difficult to say what im- 
pelled these half -insane sufferers to seek the direc- 
tory quarters, but probably they were governed by 
a sort of instinct which urged them to leave their 
own stilling quarters and get into the pure atmo- 
sphere of the directory quarter. 

They always came in the dead of the night and 
each night the number increased until they seemed 
to swarm all over that quarter. 

One evening a cordon of officers was placed on 
guard to prevent the invasion. But the sufferers 
managed to get by them and there were more than 
ever of the sick and dying in the directory quarters 
in the morning. 

Director Mayhew went to his room a day or two 
after tlie affair at the garden party. He was dis- 
turbed in his mind about the progress of the disease. 


324 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


He feared that the directory were making a mistake. 
He was in terror lest the epidemic should find lodg- 
ment in the directory quarter. ‘^Yet,” he said to 
himself, ‘‘ everything about the quarter is in a 
healthy condition and the seAverage is perfect.” 

Still he had his misgivings and if it Avere not for 
the pride of opinion he would have recommended 
that relief be extended to the poor people. 

The evening was warm, and before going to bed 
he opened his window wide. 

This director had a beautiful house. All up the 
sides vines grew and one of them came no to his 
window. 

The air was laden with the breath of fragrant 
fiowers, but the director did not sleep well. 

About one o’clock there was a noise outside — a 
rustle of leaves and a shaking of the vine. This was 
not caused by the Avind, for there was not a breath 
of air stirring. 

In a few seconds the hand of a man appeared 
above the window sill, a head folloAved. It AA^as hor- 
ribly marked with livid rings. The hand reached 
over the window sill and a man pulled himself into 
the room. He was one of the stricken laborers. 
He stood in the window like a statue with his eyes 
turned towards the bed. He stood thus for several 
minutes, then he moved stealthily towards the 
bed. 

He crept into it without heeding the position of 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


325 


the director, and he laid his head on Mayhew’s 
breast. 

The director awoke with a start. He grappled 
with the intruder. 

The man turned his face and the director gave a 
scream of horror. He broke away from the man 
and ran towards the door. The man followed. The 
door was locked and the director in his agitated 
condition could not turn the key. He dropped it on 
the floor. The man j)ut his hand out as if to help 
him, at the same time placing his other hand on his 
shoulder. 

Mayhew shook the hand off with a shudder and 
moved quickly away. The man followed slowly. 

“Keep off!” cried Mayhew in terror. “Keep 
off!” 

The man paid no heed. 

AVherever Mayhew went he followed slowly. 
Whenever he reached him he put his hand on May- 
hew’s head or shoulders. 

Mayhew struck him once or twice but the man 
paid no attention to that. He kept following May- 
hew round and round the room ; generally he moved 
slowly, but sometimes he moved forward with a 
quick gliding motion which would bring him right 
beside Mayhew like a flash. 

Mayhew did not dare turn his eyes away from the 
horrible apparition. 

The man’s apjpearance was so ghastly, so horrible. 


32G 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


SO unnatural, that every moment Mayliew’s horror 
increased. 

His blood seemed to freeze. He lost the power of 
speech and only moved about mechanically. If he 
turned his eyes for a moment the man glided to his 
side on the instant. * 

Whenever he came close to Mayhew he put his 
left hand on his arm or on his shoulder or head or 
face, in a peculiar and unnatural manner. His eyes 
were as devoid of expression as though he were 
dead or blind. 

He never said a word or uttered a sound and were 
it not for a peculiar noise he made in breathing, 
Mayhew would have believed that he was being 
pursued by a dead man. 

Round and round the room Mayhew went, fol- 
lowed by the man. 

His main thought was to keep the man away— to 
prevent him from touching him. The icy hand of 
the man struck a chill through him. 

As he went round the room, he tried to prevent 
the man coming near him by putting chairs and 
tables between them, but the man glided round them 
with the ease of a snake. 

Mayhew undertook to run, but the instant his 
back was turned he felt the horrible pressure of the 
man’s dead, cold hand on his slioulder. 

He uttered a shuddering cry of horror as he shook 
off the hand. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


327 


He turned and faced the man and as he stepped 
backward he cried in an almost inarticulate voice: 

‘‘ What do you want ? ” 

No answer. 

“ Who are you ? ” 

No answer. 

“ Leave me alone ! ” 

No answer. 

The man stood as immovable as a statue. His 
eyes were turned towards May hew, but he did not 
seem to see him. 

Mayhew’s mind was in a tumult of agony and 
terror— the awful terror of uncertainty. 

“ What is the man ? ’’ ‘‘ Who is he ? ” “ What does 
he want ? ” 

“ He carries the plague with him and he is trans* 
mitting it to me.” These thoughts rushed through 
Mayhew’s mind. 

May hew felt that the man was trying to get a grip 
on him, so that he could inoculate him with the 
plague by breathing on him. 

Several times the man tried to embrace him as if 
he intended to kiss him. 

The thought of such a thing set every nerve ting- 
ling with repulsion. 

If the man had been violent or noisy it would 
have been a relief. But he was docile and unresist- 
ing. 

He seemed to have as little motive as a fish in a 


328 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


glass globe and he glided about the room in an aim- 
less, purposeless manner. 

His every movement seemed to say: ‘‘I will be 
your shadow.” 

“ If I could only get out of the room,” said May- 
hew in a whisper. 

He moved towards the door and dropped on his 
knees to find the key. 

The man was beside him on the instant and assist- 
ed him in the search. One hand he put on May- 
hew’s shoulder; at the touch Mayhew went down 
with a shudder and wrenched himself free. 

He scrambled to his feet and ran to the other side 
of the room. 

The man picked up the key and held it out to 
Mayhew, following him around the room with the 
key in his hand. 

‘‘ If I could only get it,” said Mayhew. 

And yet he was afraid to take it. 

The man holding it towards him followed him 
round and round the room. 

“ I must,” said Mayhew, and he snatched the key. 

He dropped it as though it had stung him. 

The key was so cold that it sent a chill through 
him. 

He did not attemjot to pick it up nor did the man. 

He again tried to call for help, but his vocal cords 
seemed paralyzed. 

He tried to get to the bell, but the man always 


Me reign op selfishness. 


320 


got in front of it and stood there patiently and 
passively. 

Each moment Mayhew’s horror of his visitor in- 
creased. 

! He could not bring his reason into play. He 
could not control his mind. 

He could only think : “ There is a repulsive pres- 
ence in the room which I must get rid of or get 
away from.” 

The feeling of repulsion grew upon him each time 
the creature touched him, until in an ecstasy of 
agony his reason seemed about to give way under 
the strain. 

These two men had been around the room a hun- 
dred times. They now stood facing each other. 

Mayhew was filled with loathing as he looked at 
the hideous face, but he durst not turn his head, and 
more by instinct than reason he kept his eyes fixed 
on the face of the intruder. 

Suddenly there was a noise — one of those inexpli- 
cable noises which we hear in the silent watches of 
the night. It was probably the cracking of a piece 
of furniture or of a beam in the wall; or it might 
have been a rat or a mouse, but it was a sharp sound, 
and in the dead stillness it was exaggerated. 

It struck on the strained nerves of Mayhew in a 
way that seemed to tear them. 

He could not help it; he turned his head in the 
direction of the sound. 


330 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

Like a flash his visitor was upon him. He took 
Mayhew in his arms and placed his ice-cold lips 
against his cheeks. 

The double shock must have dethroned Mayhew’s 
reason. 

He grappled with the man and tried to push him 
away. 

The man clung to him with a tenacity that was 
terrible. 

Round and round the room they struggled, May- 
hew trying to get away, the intruder holding him ; 
Mayhew pushing him away, the intruder clinging 
to him. 

Neither of the men uttered a word. 

Mayhew was backing and trying to get away. 
The intruder followed, with his face almost touching 
his. 

Mayhew made a misstep and fell backwards, pull- 
ing the intruder on top of him. The intruder lurched 
to one side as he fell and released his hold. 

In a moment Mayhew broke away and rushed for 
the window. 

He climbed out, caught hold of the trailing vines, 
and let himself down to the ground. 

The intruder followed and ran after him. 

Several days after, the bodies of Mayhew and the 
intruder were found miles away, floating in a pond. 

They were locked in each other’s arms. 


THE REION OF SELFISHNESS. 


331 


CHAPTER XL. 

WILMOT IN A TANGLE OF LOVE. ( 

In the haste of his flight and during the progress 
of the impeachment proceedings, Sinclair seems to 
have forgotten or ignored Lizzie — Lizzie, the charm- 
ing; Lizzie, the lovable; Lizzie with the dimpled 
chin and dimpled cheeks and dimpled shoulders; 
Lizzie with the soft brown hair with a ripple in it 
and a gleam of gold; Lizzie with the soft brown 
eyes with a little spark in them; Lizzie with the 
soft brown eyes with a spark in them that coaxed 
and pleaded their way into every heart ; Lizzie with 
her confidential chat and confiding ways which 
seemed to make for her a nestling place in the 
warmest side of every one she met. 

In his hour of trouble Sinclair forgot this com- 
panion. 

He had sent her to “ Crest Lawn,” one of the finest 
estates and most beautiful cottages in the country. 
Here she had entertained in his absence in a way 
that made Crest Lawn ” the most popular of out- 
of-town resorts. 

Augustus Wilmot was one of the most frequent 
visitors at the cottage. He never disguised his ad- 
miration for her grace ” as he always called Lizzie. 


332 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


His attentions were of the most polite and most 
respectful nature. He never attempted any freedom, 
for any attempt at familiarity with Lizzie was re- 
buked with a surprised look. 

She made no scene, neither did she become angry. 
She simply looked surprised and the most audacious 
intruder stood back. After such an encounter she 
would win the intruder’s gratitude by ignoring his 
misconduct and putting him at his ease. 

At the time of Sinclair’s impeachment, Wilmot 
and a number of Sinclair’s friends were at the cottage. 

The news of the impeachment was a great surprise 
to them, but they with one accord agreed to make 
light of it before Lizzie so that she might be saved 
needless pain,” as one of the guests put it. 

On the eve of his departure, Sinclair thought of 
Lizzie, but only as a burden of which in a selfish 
way he wished to rid himself, and that as cheaply 
as possible. So he wrote to her that he was going 
abroad and the chances were that he would never 
return ; that he regretted exceedingly being obliged 
to leave her, but that it was out of his power to do 
otherwise; that he had met with many misfortunes. 
As a postscript he added that he would give her 
some of what little money he had left, and he in- 
closed a company note for $2,000 

Selfish as he was, Sinclair’s conscience smote him 
as he wrote that letter. He felt that he was leaving 
tlie girl helpless and alone. It was like deserting a 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


333 


foundling in the wilderness or in a great city which 
was as bad. 

Lizzie he knew could never make her living and 
he believed the poor girl must of necessity go heart* 
broken and perhaps starve. 

These thoughts rushed through his mind as he 
wrote the letter, but he brushed them aside with the 
remark: I can’t take care of everybody who is un- 
fortunate. I can’t support the whole world. Lizzie 
must look out for herself. It is every man for him- 
self in this world.” 

Then through the miles of space which separated 
them he saw Lizzie’s lovable face, her winning smile, 
her pleading look, and he tore open the envelope 
and put in the $2,000 note. 

Poor Lizzie was dumfounded when she saAv the 
letter and its inclosure. She carried them to Wil- 
mot or Gus ” as she called him. 

What does it mean? ” she burst out impetuously. 

Wilmot was astounded as he read the letter, and 
his astonishment was accompanied by a thrill of joy, 
for instantly the idea occurred to him that he might 
become Lizzie’s protector. 

‘‘I am afraid,” he answered, ‘Hhat this letter 
speaks the truth. You will never see him again in 
all probability.” 

‘‘ Why? ” she cried eagerly. 

Wilmot made half a dozen explanations before he 
could satisfy her. 


334 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


She wanted to know if Sinclair was in trouble or 
in danger, or in want. If she could not go to him ; 
if she could not help him ^Sinclair would as soon 
have asked a canary bird to help him) and in a hun- 
dred different ways she expressed concern for Sin- 
clair’s welfare, until at last by slow degrees she 
learned that he had deserted her, but Wilmot col- 
ored and softened the truth in so many ways that 
the girl’s feelings were not hurt and she recognized 
the separation as inevitable. 

With wonderful tact and skill and great patience 
Wilmot succeeded getting Lizzie to permit him to 
provide for her. He certainly had a strong affection 
for her, and she found him so companionable that 
she said: 

“ I like to have you around.” In fact they were 
great chums. 

She liked the cottage at Crest Lawn and he bought 
it for her use. He also bought a house in the city 
which he likewise placed at her disposal. 

From a material standpoint and so far as her sur- 
roundings were concerned, Lizzie suffered no change. 

Wilmot treated her as if she were a distinguished 
friend. He always asked j)ermission before he called 
1113011 her. 

After a time he found that she had so entwined 
herself around his affections that he was uneasy and 
uncomfortable when he was away from her. His 
thoughts were constantly hovering around her. Her 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


335 


sayings and movements were always floating through 
his mind. Oftentimes, it mattered not what he might 
be doing, he would stop and sit or stand gazing into 
vacancy. 

At such times he saw Lizzie as he had last seen 
her, or was listening to some of her sayings. 

One day he was talking with a friend and his 
mind wandered to Lizzie and he seemed to forget the 
presence. His friend became nettled and burst out. 

Are you in love? ” 

AYilmot stammered an apology. 

AVhen his friend left him he said to himself : ‘‘ Am 
I in love? ” 

He called on Lizzie that evening and as he gazed 
at the table in a fit of abstmction, she sat beside him 
on the sofa and taking his head in her hands, looked 
into his eyes as she said: 

‘‘ Oh, what a serious face! Who gave it to you? 

He smiled: ‘‘ I’m afraid you did, my little girl.” 

‘‘ I ! Why should I give you such a serious 
face ? ” 

He looked at her in a loving way, then she added : 

“ Come speak up, why ? ” 

Because 1 love you and I want to make you 

my wife. Lizzie, will you — will you make me 
happy ? ” 

This speech rushed through his mind in a second, 
but as he uttered the word “ because ” something 
caused him to stop. His better judgment suddenly 


336 


THE EEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


awakened and stood between him and the folly he 
was about to commit. 

With his surroundings, how could he marry Lizzie? 
It would bring down upon him the wrath of his rel- 
atives, the sneers of his friends, and the ridicule of 
his acquaintances. 

These thoughts struck upon his senses like the 
harsh clang of a gong, and for a second he was stu- 
pefied. 

Very slowly his mind recovered its balance; then 
he gently disentangled himself from Lizzie’s arms 
and as he arose and took his hat to go, she spoke: 

Are you going so soon? ” with a pout. 

The words turned him round and towards her, and 
as his eyes came in contact with hers full of eloquent 
pleading (for she divined that he was in trouble and 
her sympathies were aroused) he felt himself drawn 
to her as to a magnet. His will power seemed to 
leave him, and he began to move towards her — his 
cane fell with a Jarring sound and the spell was 
broken. 

I’ll have to go now, dear,” he said in a hesitating 
voice. I — I'll call again soon. Good-night.” 

“ Good-night,” she said ; ‘‘come soon and tell me 
your trouble.” 

In the street the cool air revived him. He took a 
deep breath. 

“ Ah,” he said, “ what a lucky escape. I wonder 
if she understood what I meant ? I must be care- 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 33 ^ 

fill,” he added. ‘‘ I must stop such nonsense. It 
would never do. 

‘‘ But she is a charming creature. There are none 
like her in my set.” Then he said determinedly, 
“ No, no, it would never do. One thing is certain: I 
must keep away from her.” 

All night he lay awake. Once or twice he dozed 
fitfully. Several times during the next day he 
found himself going towards Lizzie's house, and 
only by a violent effort he wrenched himself 
away. 

“ I must keep away,” he said. 

Again he passed an almost sleepless night. 

‘‘ I’m a fool,” he said fiercely. ITl fix this matter 
quickly. I’ll take a trip to Grand Ledge. That 
will shake this nonsense out of me.” 

Grand Ledge was a town in a distant part of the 
country. 

That afternoon he started for Grand Ledge. All 
the afternoon he travelled and all the night. 

The train sped rapidly away from the great city 
and away from Lizzie. But Lizzie was with him all 
the time. He tried to read, tried to sleep, tried to 
look at the scenery or at his fellow-passengers, but 
Lizzie was in his mind all the time. All his efforts 
to change his thoughts were useless. 

Early in the morning he arose, washed and dressed 
himself. The train came to a halt in the depot of a 

large town. He went out and walked up and down 
22 


338 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


the platform. A train came in from the opposite 
direction. 

He said to a station employee, “ Where is that 
train going ? ” 

To Pactolus,” said the man. 

Wilmot continued walking up and down. He 
looked wistfully at the train. He walked up to it. 

His valet came up to him : Shall I order your 
breakfast, sir ? ” 

^‘Yes.” 

‘‘ All aboard,” called the conductor of the train. 

‘‘Stay,” said Wilmot to the valet, “Pm going 
back; return with the luggage.” 

He jumped on the train and by midnight he was 
home again. 

“ What nonsense,” he said. “ I need not go to see 
Lizzie, even if I am in the city.” 

Next day at noon he found himself standing at the 
corner nearest to Lizzie’s house. He stood there for 
a long time, then he walked around the block. 

“ I wonder if she will come out,” he said ; but she 
did not. 

That night he walked by the house. There was 
a light in the parlor. He stood under the window. 
He heard Lizzie’s voice, then her laugh. Then he 
heard a man’s voice, then Lizzie’s merry laugh rang 
out again, and the man’s laugh joined hers. 

Wilmot became wild with jealousy and he rushed 
away. 


THE RErGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


S39 


“ I’ll never go near her house again,” he repeated 
over and ovei’ again. I’ll turn her out of the house. 
I’ll turn her adrift, I’ll ” Wilmot stopped short. 

‘‘Why?” 

The question seemed to block his way. He stood 
still in the street. 

“ Why ? ” “ Why ? ” “ Why ? ” “ Why ? ” 

The questions seemed to come from every direc- 
tion. They seemed piled up in front of him. He 
blushed. 

“ She has never said an unkind word to me. No 
human being has ever shown me more kindness or 
contributed as much to my happiness. The poor 
girl shall never want while I live, nor if I die.” 

In the morning he went to his lawyer and had an 
irrevocable deed drawn which insured Lizzie a lib- 
eral income for life. 

“Now,” said Wilmot, “I will not bother the girl 
any more.” 

That night he again found himself in front of Liz- 
zie’s house. It was brilliantly lighted. He could 
hear voices and music. 

Again he was overcome by jealousy. He rang the 
bell and was admitted. 

There were a number of people in the parlor, and 
there was a loud buzz of conversation. 

Wilmot stood in the parlor doorway for a mo- 
ment. 

“ Why, there’s Gus ! ” came the voice of Lizzie, 


346 THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

and she came pushing her way through the crowd 
to meet him. 

“Why, you bad fellow, where have you been? I 
thought I would never see you again. Come in 
here,” and she took his arm and led him into an ante- 
room. She pushed him on to a sofa and sat beside 
him. 

“ Oh, what a pale face ! What’s the matter ? 
Won’t you tell me? Never mind, I won’t ask if you 
don’t want me to know.” 

She passed her hand gently over his forehead. 

“Poor fellow,” with a suppressed sob, and her 
eyes filled with tears. 

Wilmot was overcome by his emotions. He at- 
tempted to rise. Lizzie twisted her fingers into the 
lapel of his coat and held him down. 

“ No, no,” slie whispered, “ not yet — so soon,” look- 
ing at him appealingly. 

“ I must go now,” he said in an agitated voice as 
he tried to unfasten her fingers. 

“Please, not so soon; you have only been here a 
minute.” 

“ I must go now. I’ll come to-morrow.” 

“ Will you — true ? ” 

He nodded. 

“ What time ? ” 

“ At three o’clock.” 

“No, at twelve o’clock. Come to lunch.” 

“All right.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


341 


Will you ? ” she cried clapping her hands, while 
her face beamed the happiest of smiles. 

He nodded and his face caught her smile. 

“Now you are looking happy again.” 

“At lunch,” said Wilmot, and he broke away and 
went home with his heart fairly bubbling with hap- 
piness. 

At twelve o’clock to the minute Wilmot was at 
Lizzie’s door. Lizzie came tripping to meet him the 
moment he entered. 

“ My poor fellow,” she said as she drew him into 
the i^arlor. 

Lizzie looked so' bewitchingly pretty that Wil- 
mot took a deep breath as he paused to admire 
her. 

Without saying a word he put his hand on her 
shoulder and turned her around. 

“ Do you think I look pretty ? ” she said simply. 

“ Beautiful ! ” he' exclaimed. 

“ Beautiful! ” he repeated several times. 

“ Isn’t that nice,” she said claiDping her hands. 

She went up to him and put her hands on his 
shoulders : 

“ Will I tell you a secret ?” she whispered. 

“ Yes,” replied he in a whisper. 

“ Well, I wanted to look j)retty for you.” 

She had prepared the daintiest of lunches, but 
Wilmot only pretended to nibble to please her, while 
his eyes followed her every movement with an hun- 


342 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


gry, eager look. His was the hunger of the heart 
rather than the stomach. 

Lizzie chatted and prattled in her happy way with 
her musical voice, while she daintily picked at the 
viands like a bird. 

‘‘Now,” she said when lunch was finished, “I’m 
going to have a good, long look at you.” And she 
led him into her boudoir. 

“ There, now, is the softest and easiest chair. You 
can be as lazy as you like.” 

This was said laughingly. Then her manner sud- 
denly changed as she sat on the arm of the chair. 
She turned her face towards him full of earnest 
pleading. 

“ You will stay a long time, won’t you? ” 

“ Yes,” he said, “ you sweet girl, I will.” 

“ Oh, good, good ! ” she cried, clapping her hands. 
“ Now, I will get you a rose to put in your button- 
hole,” and she danced out of the room. 

“What a fool I am,” muttered Wilmot, fiercely. 
“ Where can I find a woman who can compare with 
her either in my set or in any society? ” 

When she came back with the tiniest of rosebuds, 
he submitted to being decorated. Then he said 
suddenly: 

“ Lizzie, I want to say something to you.” 

She looked at him with wide staring eyes. “ Is it 
serious ? ” 

“ Yes, very serious.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


343 


‘‘ I don’t like to listen to serious things, but I don’t 
care, I will if you want me to. What is it ? ” 

“ Lizzie, I want you to be my wife.” 

She looked at him and shook her head as if she 
did not understand. Then she said in a dreary sort 
of way: 

“ Forever and ever ? ” 

“Yes,” he cried eagerly; “yes, forever. I love 
you, Lizzie, and I can’t live without you. I can’t, 
I can’t.” 

The last words almost seemed like a cry. 

Lizzie was very pale; she stood by his chair star- 
ing into vacancy for more than a minute ; then she 
said slowly as though waking from a dream : 

“ Do you think I can make you happy ? ” 

“Yes,” he said quickly, “if you can be happy 
with me ? ” 

“Yes,” she murmured, and she fell into his arms 
with a sigh. 

Within a few days they were married. 

The announcement was received with horror by 
the set in which Wilmot moved, and the scandal- 
mongers had an active trade. 

Wilmot’s only reply was: 

“I married to please myself, and if anybody 
thinks they have a right to object, I am sorry I can’t 
think as they do.” 


344 


THE KEIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XLI. 

THEY CAME TO THE DIRECTORS’ QUARTER — TO 
DIE. 

One morning it was whispered among the direc- 
tory that Chester Wood, one of the richest men in 
the company, was afflicted with the malady. 

Official inquiry was had and the reiiort confirmed. 

A committee having charge of the sanitary affairs 
of the quarter, established a strict quarantine around 
Mr. Wood’s palace. They also made rigid sanitary 
rules. 

Two days after, the malady entered the houses of 
other directors. 

Do what they would, the sanitary committee could 
not keep the afflicted laborers out of their quarters. 

The poor wretches still continued night after night 
to wander into the gardens and even into the houses 
of the directors. 

The awful spectacle of these dead or dying men 
and women in their gardens and doorways and 
houses almost drove the women of the directory 
frantic. 

“ Can nothing be done to keep them away ? ” they 
said. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS, 


345 


But the only answers were worried looks on the 
faces of the questioned. 

At first the sanitary committee simply drove the 
trespassers out, but as the numbers increased and 
the warnings of the committee were unheeded, orders 
were given to shoot them on sight. 

This Avas an added horror to the doomed directors 
and their families, and the order was rescinded after 
one night’s trial. 

All of the guards were armed with repeating rifies 
and instructed to challenge and shoot every laborer 
who approached the quarter. 

That will stop them,” said one of the committee 
with a grim smile. But it did not stop them. 

The guards Avere well disciplined machines. They 
had no discretion and they obeyed orders to the let- 
ter. 

At about ten o’clock what AA^as knoAvn as the south- 
Avest end of the quarter Avas startled by the report 
of a rifie Avhich rang out Avith startling distinctness 
on the stillness of the night. 

“ Ha,” said one of the directors, “ that is business! ” 

“That will stop them,” said another with a 
chuckle. 

The shot was folio Aved by a shriek; then there 
were several sharp reports folloAved by yells of a 
most unearthly character. 

Then again was heard shouting and screaming in 
different parts of the quarter. Every little while 


346 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


the horrifiecl dwellers in the quarter heard shots 
fired followed by shouting and screaming. 

All night long this was kej)t uj) and the people in 
the directors’ quarter had no sleep. 

The sanitary committee’s order to shoot all intrud- 
ers on sight was followed to the letter and without 
mercy. 

The afflicted laborers began stealing into this quar- 
ter at a little before ten o’clock. 

They had been invariably undemonstrative and 
peaceful; they resisted nothing; they could be led 
anywhere, but when they heard the report of the 
first gun, they became perfect demons. The noise 
seemed to drive them frantic. 

They rushed at the guards with such impetuosity 
that they felled them at once; in many instances 
disarmed them and beat them to death with clubbed 
rifles. Some of the intruders fell dead at the first 
shot; others Avere only wounded and they ran 
screaming and shouting through the streets, often- 
times climbing over garden walls and rushing into 
the doorways of the directors’ homes. Here they 
would scream and shout and yell while they tried 
to force their way through the doorway, crying: 

“ Let us in! ” 

Oh, let us in ! ” 

Some of them climbed on to the balconies and 
dashed through the glass doors and rushed into the 
houses lacerated and covered with blood. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


347 


One of them climbed over a hall door and crashed 
through the fanlight. He rushed up-stairs in a 
frenzy. He attacked the owner of the house, biting 
him and tearing him with his nails and teeth Avhile 
the family and servants stood almost helplessly by. 
It is true that two of the more courageous servants 
tried to pull the madman away, but it was too late 
to save their master. The monster only left the dy- 
ing master to attack the servants, then the women 
of the house ran screaming away. 

The screams attracted his attention; he paused a 
second, then he left his second victim lying on the 
floor and pursued the women. 

Happily they got into a room and had the door 
safely locked before he reached them. 

He flung himself against the door in baffled rage. 

Again and again he beat upon the door in a vain 
effort to break it down. Suddenly he noticed the 
fanlight and in a moment he had climbed up to it 
and dashed the transom into the room with a crash. 
He forced his head through and glared at the cower- 
ing women like a wild beast. 

He did not seem to see the women huddled to- 
gether in a corner. There were nine of them. His 
eyes looked as though they were sightless and with- 
out intelligence, but he seemed to know of their 
presence. 

No one would have recognized in this group of 
abject, cowering women, the gorgeously dressed 


348 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


ladies who a few hours before were haughtily giving 
commands to retinues of servants or Avho were 
warmly and heartlessly approving of the murderous 
way in which the sanitary committee proposed to 
rid the quarter of intruding laborers. 

The distance between arrogant power and cower- 
ing suppliance is oftentimes but a step. 

Here was a group of the richest, most powerful 
and most arrogant women in the whole world kneel- 
ing in suppliant attitude before a miserable wretch 
whom they would not have turned their bejewelled 
heads to look at one hour before. 

The frenzied trespasser managed to work his 
head and one arm through the transom, but fortu- 
nately it Avas several inches too narrow to admit the 
passage of his body. 

It was a fearful spectacle for these delicately 
nurtured women. 

This caricature of the human face divine with all 
the divine eliminated, cheeks bloated, eyes blood- 
shot, mouth foaming, hair and face smeared with 
blood. 

He was strong, this monster, and he struggled hard 
to get through the aperture, and as he struggled the 
framework of the door creaked and strained and 
trembled and from time to time it seemed on the 
point of yielding. 

He was patient, this monster, for he tried a num- 
ber of ways to force his way in. He withdrew after 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


34D 


a time and several of the ladies relieved from the 
strain fell in a faint. 

The relief did not last long, for soon he was heard 
outside the door again. He put some heavy article 
of furniture on the outside. It was a table. It gave 
him a purchase for his feet and again the hideous 
head protruded itself through the transom. 

He was persistent. He pressed, he twisted, he 
struggled and got through inch by inch like a snake. 

He was silent — not a word did he say, nor did he 
utter a sound save hard breathing which told of his 
strenuous exertions. 

Some of the servants had run to their neighbors 
and begged assistance, but the neighbors had all 
they could do to guard their own homes, for they 
did not know at what moment one or more of the 
laborers would come dashing against their own doors 
or windows. 

Self-protection was the first law with them and 
every man for himself was their motto. 

The guard when appealed to refused to leave their 
posts, as they were bound by the strictest orders to 
remain where they were stationed. 

All night long this horrible object hung over the 
doorway while the women gazed at it in an ecstasy 
of terror. 

The sight became so horrifying that one of the 
women, finding herself beside the electric light key, 
turned off the light. 


350 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


This was a relief, for anything seemed better 
than looking at the face of the struggling man in 
the transom. The relief was only momentary, for 
the noise of his struggle and the straining of the 
woodwork became exaggerated in the darkness to 
such an extent that the women imagined that the 
door frame was giving way and after a few seconds 
one of the women whispered : 

“ Turn on the light.” 

Hour after hour the women cowered trembling in 
the corner with their terror-stricken faces turned 
towards the intruder. 

How this patient madman struggled to get 
through the transom ! After a time he got so far in 
that he could not get back. 

In the morning some of the servants came to the 
rescue and when they pulled the intruder out he was 
a corpse. When the relief did come, not one of the 
women in that room had strength enough to stand. 

They were carried to their beds. 

One young girl went into the room with jet black 
hair, and when they carried her out in the morning 
her hair was white. Two of the ladies were out of 
their minds, and not one of them ever recovered 
from the shock. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


351 


CHAPTEE XLII. 

THE SOFT BREEZE CARRIED THE PLAGUE TO THE 
DIRECTORY. 

One night of such horrors was enough for the 
directors’ quarte 

For years after, a mere passing thought of its ter- 
rors made the residents shudder. 

The very first thing the residents did was to hasten 
to the rooms of the sanitary committee and implore 
them to revoke their order. 

What will we do, gentlemen ? ” said the chair- 
man of the committee helplessly. ‘‘We must keep 
these villains out. How will we do it? ” 

“Not in the way you tried last night,” answered 
one of the directors hotly. 

“ I would not pass another such night for a million 
dollars,” said another. 

The colonel of the guards appeared and saluted 
the chairman. 

“Have you a report?” asked the chairman. 

“ I have, your excellency,” responded the colonel 
referring to some memoranda. 

“ AVell ? ” said the chairman impatiently. 

“We killed forty prowlers, and ’’the colonel 

hesitated. 


352 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS 


‘‘ W ell, anything else ? ” 

Some of the residents were — were killed.’’ 

‘‘ Well, how many ? ” 

There is a list,” replied the colonel holding out 
a piece of paper. 

“ How many ? ” shouted the chairman in a harsh 
voice. 

Thirty-two,” said the colonel. 

This was followed by an exclamation of dismay 
and the visitors crowded around the chairman’s desk 
while one of the committee read the list of the resi- 
dents who were killed. 

One of the visiting directors resumed the discus- 
sion by saying, “No matter what we do or what 
occurs, we must not have such another night as 
last.” 

“No, no, no! ” shouted nearly every one in the 
room. 

“We must remember,” the speaker continued, 
“ that we are not dealing with rational beings. These 
prowlers are madmen and carry with them no sense 
of responsibility. They take no heed of their own 
lives or the lives of others. Therefore we must deal 
with them as with irresponsible beings as we would 
with unreasoning animals. Which is the proper 
way to deal with them I confess is beyond my poAvers 
of solution.” 

The committee went into executive session and 
revoked what was known as the “ shooting order.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


353 


Then long and wearily they discussed the problem 
of how to keep the prowlers out of the quarter and 
to stop the spread of the epidemic. 

They resolved on two courses of action ; one was 
to stretch a double cordon of sentinels all around 
the quarter and keep them there night and day. 

The other was to thin the city’s population out 
by shipping large numbers of laborers out into the 
country until the epidemic should have spent itself. 
About 50,000 families were so shipped and they 
created a number of little villages. 

Matters were becoming serious owing to the epi- 
demic. Work in the factories was almost suspended 
and many of the laborers were without means of 
support. They began to suffer for lack of food. 
Then urged by hunger they clamored at the ware- 
houses for food. 

Many of the guards were sick and it was an easy 
matter for the hungry laborers to help themselves ; 
and having done it once and found it easy, they did 
it again and, although these depredations were re- 
ported to the directory, and although some of the 
hot-headed members advocated immediate and severe 
punishment of the “thieves,” wiser counsels pre- 
vailed and the board simply ignored the “ pilfering 
of provisions ” as one of the members put it. 

“ It certainly is stealing,” he said, “ and thieves 
should be punished. But when men cannot earn 
their living they must eat to live and they must get 

23 


354 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


food. They will not starve peaceably. Men will get 
food by force if they cannot get it legitimately, and 
you cannot administer punishment to men by the 
thousands. The best way to treat this matter is to 
simply ignore it — try to keep it within bounds until 
this awful visitation is past.” 

Thousands upon thousands of people were shipped 
into the country, but always far removed from the 
country seats of the directors. .. 

Then there arose a still greater cause for alarm. 
The epidemic was slowly but surely spreading in the 
directory quarter. Three times the sanitary com- 
mittee said they had stamped it out; but it did not 
stay stamped out. 

The dwellers in this favored quarter at first felt 
themselves absolutely secure from the invasion of 
any disease or eiDidemic. Then when one or two 
residents caught the disease, they became uneasy. 
As the number of sufferers increased they became 
alarmed. 

But why did they not leave the infected city and 
go out into the pure open air which they could find 
at their beautiful country seats? 

There was a reason and a good reason. It was not 
because they were brave and were willing to face the 
dangers of the epidemic with their stricken people — 
or that they might minister to their needs. 

These were not the reasons for their lingering in 
the doomed city. They were afraid to leave it. They 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


355 


were afraid of tlie laborers. They were afraid of 
each other. 

They feared violence from the people and treach- 
ery from each other. For in that board of directory 
there were constant plottings and connterplottings. 
i Scarce a director knew whom he could trust and 
so they felt that they must be on the guard and con- 
stantly on the alert. 

If they left the city. for a week or two they might 
find themselves unseated and deprived of their 
rights ; to the importunities of their families urging 
them to fiee they had but one answer, uttered in a 
whisper: 

I must remain in the city to protect my interests.” 

Every member had his enemies who were ever on 
the alert to strike him down. 

It was of no avail to leave for a day or two. 

Many tried that but only returned to be stricken 
down by the disease. 

Up from the stricken laborers’ district came the 
disease-laden air like myriads of loathsome serpents. 

The soft, sweet south wind came laden with the 
disease. 

The east wind dallied with the disease. The west 
wind dallied with it; the north wind drove it out, 
but always some of the disease remained. 

The sanitary committee tried to combat the dis- 
ease with disinfectants, but the soft south wind 
would come and the disinfectants were as chaff be- 


356 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


fore this gentle breeze, wliicli carried with it a 
freight of death. 

The board of directors saw the disease striking 
their members one by one, and they became panic- 
stricken. 

They met and passed a resolution to suspend all 
business for a period of three months. 

They also made the most thorough arrangements 
for a radical improvement in the sanitary condition 
of the laborers’ district, including their dwellings 
and workshops. 

Then they left the doomed city in hot haste, but 
even as they made their preparations to depart the 
soft southern wind went through the laborers’ dis- 
tricts, picked up the germs of disease and carried it 
into every corner of the sumptuous homes of the 
directors. 

It wafted the disease into the folds of the rich gar- 
ments and hangings and furnishings and it deposited 
its terrible freight in the trunks of the fleeing 
directors. 

Every railroad and out-going boat was loaded 
with panic-stricken men and women fleeing from the 
terrible disease which was the result of their own 
greed and heartless cruelty. 

Once out of the infected city the fugitives took 
grateful breaths of the soft pure air and congratu- 
lated themselves on their escape, never once caring 
for the poor wretches they had left behind. 


The REiGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


357 


They scattered to their several beautiful suburban 
houses and that night in the sweet country air many 
of them got the first unbroken sleep they had known 
for weeks, and as morning broke with all its charm 
of light and sweet odors and song of bird, many a 
director said, 

“ Truly the world is made for the rich.” 

Elaborate preparations were made for amusements, 
and the trunks were opened and the germs of disease 
came out and they fastened upon these people and 
upon their servants. 

One by one the household would be stricken down 
until in some instances every member of the house- 
hold, from the oldest to the youngest, was suffering 
from the epidemic. 

Families with great retinues of servants would lie 
in their beds with no one to minister to their wants. 

The directors had arrogantly forbidden laborers liv- 
ing within stated distances of their country seats and 
in their need they could not call upon them for help. 

The laborer in the city had some kindly hand to 
minister to his wants, but the director in many in- 
stances died for want of the simplest aid. 

In their delirium many of them stole out of their 
houses and were lost in the woods and died from 
exposure. 

The president left the city with the others. He 
early saw that the neglect and cruelty of the com- 
pany was a fatal error. 


358 


THE REIGK OF SELFISHNESS. 


Too late he saw that men and women must have 
a certain amount of good air, food and clothing to 
keep in a healthy condition; that unless in a 
healthy condition men^and women were of very lit- 
tle use in the industrial world. 

When too late he had tried to improve the sani- 
tary condition of the laborers’ quarter. 

To better their dwellings and to better their phys- 
ical condition by lessening their hours of labor and 
allowing them better food or rather better wages. 

But he received very little support from the other 
directors. 

He had not anticipated an epidemic, and when the 
epidemic came he believed with his colleagues that 
it would be confined to the laborers’ districts. He 
was as much surprised at the ultimate result as 
were the other members of the board. 

He had suggested the reform partly from humane 
motives and partly on the broad ground of expe- 
diency, with a view of getting better work from 
the laborers because of their improved physical 
condition. 

He had viewed with alarm the horrible havoc the 
disease was making among the laborers and he was 
conscience-stricken at the awful consequences of the 
company’s cruelty and neglect. And now he, in 
his palace in one of the fairest valleys of the country, 
was also stricken down with the disease. 

As he felt the disease taking hold of his faculties 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 359 

his mind worked in channels which were new to it. 
As his muscular tissues relaxed the hardness of his 
mentality appeared to soften and a great spring of 
sympathy seemed to gush forth. 

There are intellectual men who are gentle, kind 
and sympathetic. 

There are intellectual men who are rigid, selfish 
and brutal. 

The disease took its usual course with the presi- 
dent. One day he would be physically prostrated 
and another he would be in a condition of the most 
extraordinary health and spirits. 

At such times he would arise and call around him 
some of his most trusted lieutenants and dispatch 
business with a celerity which amazed them, but it 
frequently happened that in the middle of an order 
or a dictation, he would fall into a comatose state 
and remain delirious for hours. 

Were it not for the vigilance of his attendants he 
would have escaped from the house and perhaps 
have met the fate of many others. 

It was after one of these fits that he summoned 
about one hundred of the directors and called a 
meeting in the theatre connected with his palace, 
and amid the gorgeous surroundings he said: 

^‘Gentlemen: After mature consideration I have 
concluded that for the good of the country and for 
our own good we must dissolve the company.” 

The effect of these words on the directors present 


360 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


was electrical. There was a movement of the whole 
body followed by suppressed exclamation. 

‘‘The president is insane,” said every man to 
himself. 

The president went on calmly: 

“ Bitter experience has taught us that we cannot 
control the destinies of this country in the narrow, 
selfish way in which we have been doing it. 

“ It is contrary to all law and contrary to nature. 
I once believed that it might be done and I am now 
free to say that I am not sorry that it has failed. 
For five years I have had but one object in mind and 
that was the forwarding of the interests of the com- 
pany, and in that interest I have sacrificed humanity 
and country and forgotten everything for the 
company. 

“ I believed it would be a success. I believe it was 
a success. I hoped it would continue a success and 
I did not care what suffering it entailed on humanity. 

“ The ferocious spirit of cruelty and indifference 
to suffering which has been displayed by the direc- 
tory and ” 

He paused — “its president, is most horrible to 
contemplate and has scarcely a parallel in history. 

“ Rigid repression of the people was the only sys- 
tem under which the company could be maintained. 
Let there be the slightest relaxation of these repres- 
sive measures and the people will sweep the company 
away with the same resistless force which a moun- 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


361 


tain torrent carries with it w^hen it breaks through a 
dam. 

‘‘ To-day the epidemic has left the company and 
its forces in a demoralized condition. It will be 
more difficult to reorganize the company and restore 
discipline among the laborers than it was to build 
the company. 

Who will undertake the task ? I will not. I 
am sick of the cruel suffering which the company 
has caused. I admit my responsibility for it. I do 
not attempt to excuse myself, except to say that it 
was the blind pursuit of empty ambition. 

“Of what avail is it to me that I have greater 
quantities of food than I can eat ; of clothing than 
I can wear; of servants than I need; of houses than 
I can live in ? 

“ How am I benefited in keeping millions of peo- 
ple in a condition of cruel suffering and want ? 

“ Is a man any better off, can he be happier be- 
cause he knows that millions of his fellow-citizens 
are breathing curses on his name, because of the 
wrongs he is heaping on them and theirs ? 

“ Gentlemen, I am weary of it — weary of haggard 
faces and reproachful eyes. 

“ Gentlemen, I am no sentimentalist, I am a jirac- 
tical man and I have weighed this matter carefully. 
It is almost an impossibility to make a voluntary 
surrender of power; but, voluntary or otherwise, I 
believe the power of the company is ended. 


362 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


“ I will remain your chief long enough to wind up 
the affairs of the company, or I will resign and let 
some other person take my place. But I want you 
distinctly to understand that I shall render no 
further assistance to the company in its oppression 
of mankind.” 

The president’s remarks were followed by absolute 
silence. 

It would be hard to describe the emotions of the 
directors present. 

At first they were astonished, then as the signifi- 
cance of his words fastened themselves upon their 
minds, a great dread came over them — a dread that 
their power was gone ; but this was almost immedi- 
ately followed by a revulsion of feeling and to many 
of them it was a feeling of elation because their 
common sense told them that the president’s fore- 
bodings were the ridiculous vaporings of a decay- 
ing intellect. Most of them aspired to fill his place. 

After a brief pause the president said: 

I now tender my resignation as president of the 
United Supply Company. What is the board 
pleased to do with it ? ” 

There was not a man in that assemblage who did 
not believe that he personally would be benefited 
by a change in the administration of the company’s 
affairs. Every one was a candidate himself or had a 
candidate whose accession to office would forward 
his fortunes. 


363 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 

Then followed a line of lying and hypocritical 
speeches in which regrets were spoken at the presi- 
dent’s action, and hopes expressed that he would 
withdraw his resignation. But these hopes were 
not expressed earnestly, and he was not urged with 
any degree of warmth to recede from his position. ^ 

So eager were these men for a chance of filling his 
office that within five minutes of the tendering of his 
resignation the right to withdraw it would have 
been denied him. 

Some one moved that the resignation be accepted 
at the next meeting. 

The secretary put the question and the motion 
was carried with a fierce chorus of “ Ayes,” followed 
by a few ‘‘Noes.” 

“ Is there any further business before the board? ” 
said the president. “ If not a motion to adjourn will 
be in order.” 

“ I move we adjourn,” came from a dozen members. 

The motion was put and carried without a dis- 
senting voice. 

In a moment the members were on their feet and 
hurrying out of the building and away in all direc- 
tions to form combinations for the succession to the 
presidency. Not a man amongst them felt it in- 
cumbent upon him to say good-by to their chief. 

The president stood alone on the platform until 
the last director had disappeared then turning on 
his heel he muttered: “ A pack of wolves.” 


364 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XLIIL 

THE DOOMED COMMITTEE. 

No time was lost by tlie directory in arranging 
for the acceptance of the resignation of President 
Stilpool. Within two days after tendering his res- 
ignation, a caucus was held at which it was agreed 
to petition the president to call a sj)ecial meeting 
to act upon it. One week from that day was the 
date fixed. 

The meeting was held at Stilpool’s house. Every 
director who could rise from his bed, was present. 
The president’s resignation was accepted with an 
eagerness which was almost fierce. 

A day was set for the election. 

Thus ojjened a campaign which for ferocity has 
never been equalled. 

Every sort of promise was made for votes. One 
of the chief elements used as bribes was the filling 
of the vacancies caused by the numerous deaths 
among the directors. The deaths amounted to fully 
one-half of the whole board. 

All kinds of combinations were formed and 
broken each day. In the struggle violence was re- 
sorted to and at the election many directors were 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


365 


missing who were kidnapped and detained until too 
late to vote. 

Every silly, lisping fop in the board believed he 
could fill the place of Warren Stilpool. 

The election resulted in the elevation of Thomas 
Simpson to the presidency. This result was a sur- 
prise. But he represented well the selfish, scheming 
majority of the directors, and it was meet that he 
should get the office. 

He was applauded to the echo when he announced 
that his administration of the office would not be 
a namby pamby administration.” 

He said he hoped by administering the affairs of 
the company with a firm hand to make the divi- 
dends larger. He said he proposed to reorganize 
the laborers and the industries and in furtherance 
of this scheme he ordered certain of the directors 
whom he regarded as his enemies, among whom 
was Mr. Stilpool, back to the city to see that his re- 
organization schemes were enforced. 

This was regarded a master stroke, for it was the 
general belief that those who went into the city 
would never return alive and thus he would make 
practical use of his enemies and rid himself of them 
at the same time. 

These directors demurred; but a threat of being 
unseated by the board for insubordination, caused 
them to obey. 

It was a choice of degradation to the position of 


366 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


laborer without hope, which was worse than death, 
or probable death in the city by the disease. 

Mr. Stilpool was astonished and mortified when 
he heard his name called in the list of those who 
were practically condemned to death. 

He protested vehemently and as he spoke he 
looked around on those members whose fortunes he 
had advanced from time to time, expecting them to 
join him in his protest or at least sympathize with 
him, but the bold heart of this able man sank with- 
in him as he saw them with one accord avert their 
faces. 

Then he felt in its full bitterness the chagrin of 
having relied on a selfish board of time-servers. 

He paused in his speech for a moment as he 
looked around with a bitter smile which scarce any 
one saw, but all felt. Then he continued: 

‘‘ I see, Mr. President, many men around me whom 
in the days of my power I have aided and befriended 
— men whom I have carried through crises at the 
risk of my office and my fortune. Some of them 
owe their all to me. I have earned their friendship 
and I supposed I was entitled to their best services 
and any and all sacrifices they were capable of 
making. 

These men, knowing that I can be of no further 
service to them, believe it to be my duty to go into 
the disease-infected city” — here he paused, then 
added — “ and die in the harness.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


367 


There was a mnrnmr and a motion of protest on 
the part of those surrounding the speaker. He 
paid no heed to it except to raise his voice as he 
said: 

‘‘ Mr. President, I shall obey the command of this 
board. 

“ I shall go into the city and I shall do my whole 
duty.” 

As the ex-president finished speaking, he turned 
to walk out of the board room. 

Directors arose on all sides and fiocked around 
him, protesting their sympathy. He bent his eyes 
on the ground and ignoring their extended hands 
put his hands behind him and forced his way to the 
door. 

There were fifty members in what was known as 
the City Committee. They numbered amongst them 
the ablest men in the board. They were the men 
whom the president feared. They were the men 
most likely to supplant him. He chuckled to him- 
self as he thought of the diplomatic way in which 
he had disposed of them. 

Mr. Hiton and Mr. Reed were of the number. 

The committee were given one week in which to 
make their preparations for leaving, but in two 
days they had perfected all their arrangements and 
started for the city. 

‘‘There is great danger in the city,” said MXs 
Hiton; “but there is greater danger here.” 


368 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Stilpool spoke truly when he said he was weary 
of the company’s method of repression which caused 
so much cruelty and suffering. 

His own sickness and suffering had changed his 
whole nature. 

While he would not admit that he was a philan- 
thropist, he devised a plan for the amelioration of 
suffering humanity which was at the same time novel 
and practical, and he carried it out in a spirit of 
cynicism which was highly enjoyable to his intel- 
lectual nature. 

One of the most pleasing features of his scheme 
was the element of revenge with which it was charged. 

Before going into the city the committee quar- 
tered themselves in one of Mr. Stilpool’s palaces, lo- 
cated within an half an hour’s ride of the company’s 
depot. 

Stilpool gave them a sumptuous dinner. It was a 
strange and gloomy feast. Little was said, but the 
diners were all thinking. 

They felt like convicts who had been sent into 
exile. They knew it was only a matter of a short 
time before they would be ousted from their seats 
in the board. This meant virtual confiscation of 
their property. 

If they escaped death from the disease which did 
not seem likely, and neglected to perform any of 
the duties imposed on them, deposition and confis- 
cation of their property would follow. 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


3G9 


Think and study as they would, they could see no 
escaj)e from being degraded to the condition of 
laborers. In fact some of their less diplomatic ene- 
mies had said that such was to be their fate. 

These fifty men did not enjoy their dinner. They 
were the men who had fought most bitterly against 
the election of Simpson and well they knew that 
they need expect no mercy from the president or 
his time-serving friends. 

These fifty men were desperate. One of them 
brooded over his condition until he became mad and 
then he blew his brains out. 

Dish after dish and course after course went by 
scarcely tasted. 

Hardly a word was spoken, hardly a look ex- 
changed. 

From time to time these men would glance cov^ 
ertly at one another and when detected give a guilty 
start and drop their eyes. 

When any one spoke above a whisper, the silence 
became painful; all listened eagerly and in the 
strain of dead silence the speaker would stammer and 
his words would die on his lips. 

It was a singular group of selfish men, each one 
afraid to trust his neighbor. 

The wine they drank — they drank sparingly — did 
not affect them. 

All down the long table sat these gentlemen, ele- 
gantly attired in their evening dress, with never a 
24 


370 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


smile and never a jest, with scarce a word, each man 
trying to avoid his neighbor’s eye. 

They pretended to eat and they pretended to 
drink. 

The silence was growing intolerable. 

Suddenly the oppressive stillness was broken by 
a crash. 

A number of the guests jumped to their feet and 
all turned fiercely towards the sound. 

It was only a bottle which a trembling waiter had 
broken. 

Mr. Hiton looked wildly around for a moment, 
then he seized a decanter and hurled it among the 
glassware on the side-board; in the dead silence 
the crash was terrific. 

The guests almost to a man sprang to their feet 
and turned indignant inquiring looks at Hiton. 

“ I can’t stand it, gentlemen,” he shouted excit- 
edly ; we must have some noise.” Then he filled 
his glass. 

“ Let us drink to ourselves,” he shouted. ‘‘ Here’s 
to the doomed.” 

There was silence for a second, then the guests 
shouted: 

“Yes, yes.” 

“ Doomed, doomed ! ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Here we are.” 

“ Doomed! ” 


THE REIGN OP SELFI^JHNESS. 


3^1 


Hoorah for Hiton ! ” 

And they filled their glasses over and over again 
as they drank and cheered and shouted and laughed 
and some even cried. They acted like wild men. 

They embraced one another. They walked up 
and down the room. They jumped upon the tables 
and made speeches ; they smashed the dishes ; they 
destroyed the furniture and wound up by upsetting 
the table. 

“Let me be a boy once more,” shouted Stilpool, 
and he at once became one of the wildest of the 
revellers. 

He rushed hither and thither smashing glass and 
breaking furniture, shaking hands with this one, 
jostling that one and even dancing. He drank great 
quantities of wine and the others followed his 
example. 

The whole party joined hands and danced around 
the ruins of the feast. 

It was a perfect revel. They kept it up until they 
were exhausted. 

When these men met in the morning their man- 
ners towards each other had changed. They were 
friends, they were a unit bound together by an im- 
pending danger. 

When Mr. Stilpool said he would do his duty he 
did not add “ by the company.” He uttered a diplo- 
matic nothing. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS^ 


^12 


CHAPTER XLIV. 

HOW THE GRIP OF THE COMPANY WAS LOOSENED. 

When the committee entered the city they found 
that the plague was stayed. 

A week of severe rain followed by a week of cold 
weather had washed away and blown away all traces 
of the epidemic. 

The laborers were worn out with fighting the 
disease. Many of the officers and overseers who 
were left in charge of the company’s affairs were 
dead and this department was demoralized. 

The officers had made some show of protecting 
the property of the comjiany, but only in a half- 
hearted way. 

Great damage had been done to the machinery 
and workshops. This was more the result of acci- 
dent than design or intention. 

A considerable quantity of the company’s stores 
had been consumed and a greater quantity had been 
destroyed by neglect. 

The company’s affairs were conducted under a 
number of rigid rules and it was next to impossible 
to have those rules modified or changed. Conse- 
quently all kinds of supplies for consumption and 
manufacture kept pouring into the city from the 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


3T3 


surrounding country as well as from distant points, 
notwithstanding the epidemic; and when not only 
the laborers but the heads of departments and over- 
seers were prostrated by the disease, the work of 
storing and caring for the supplies was neglected in 
a most ruinous manner. 

The deaths among the guard and the superinten- 
dents, managers and overseers had been so great 
that the factories of the company were practically 
at a stand-still and the committee concluded that an 
entire reorganization of the industrial interests was 
necessary. 

After three days of investigation the committee 
met for the purpose of exchanging opinions. The 
menjbers reported what they had seen and suggested 
divers methods of reconstructing the industrial 
branch of the company’s interests. 

It will be a big undertaking,” said Colonel Seed; 
‘‘ and the sooner we get to work the better.” 

Mr. Stilpool had not taken part in the discussion 
and from time to time the members glanced at him 
as if expecting some word expressive of approval 
or disapproval of the measures suggested. 

At length one of the members said: ‘‘What is 
your opinion, Mr. Stilpool ? ” 

“Well,” answered Mr. Stilpool, “I will say this. 
If there is anything beautiful in this humdrum life 
of ours it is self-abnegation and self-sacrifice — to the 
beneficiary. 


374 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


We have this beautifully illustrated in the bee 
who labors industriously to gather and make honey 
which he does not enjoy. 

AVe see mutinous sailors taking home their ship, 
when they know their landing means imprisonment 
or death. We see men building prisons which they 

know will confine themselves when finished ” 

He paused and looked around, then added in a 
whisper: 

‘‘ AVhen we finish rebuilding the shattered indus- 
tries of the company, the company will reward us 
by making us laborers.” 

The committee almost to a man started to their 
feet. 

Not a word was spoken for several seconds; then 
one of the members said in a strained voice : 

“ Do you believe that ? ” 

Stilpool looked wonderingly at him for a second, 
then said calmly : 

“ Do you doubt it ? ” 

No, no, no, no! ” came from all parts of the room. 

“ No, no, no, no! ” from voices which were almost 
savage in their intensity. 

Then they besieged Stilpool with questions as to 
how they could save themselves from a fate, to them, 
worse than death. Mr. Stilpool answered: 

‘‘ First by taking the laborers out of the city and 
putting them all over the country in settlements of 
from three thousand to eight thousand.” 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


375 


‘‘ Wliy ? ” asked one of tlie members. 

“For two reasons; one of those reasons is good 
enough for the company and the other will do for 
us. The company’s reason is that it is dangerous 
to have so many people massed together. It im- 
perils the safety of the organization and is a menace 
to health. Our reason is that it will weaken the 
company.” 

“ What about the factories and machinery ? ” 
asked Reed. 

“ We will ship them to the settlements. The fac- 
tories will be so constructed that no more than 
twenty operators can work in any one of them. We 
will give the company the reason that it will result 
in better work — which is true. Our reason is that 
it will place the laborer in a better position than he 
has ever held before and in a short time give him 
strength to defy the company.” 

“ What ! ” cried several of the members. “ What 
is that ? ” 

“ That will ruin the company,” said one of the ; 
committee. 

“ That is what we are going to do, gentlemen,” re- 
plied Stilpool. 

This was followed by an uproar. 

“No, we are not,” cried one of the committee in- 
dignantly. 

“ This is treachery,” shouted another in a menac- 
ing tone. 


ST6 THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 

“ A trust has been committed to our care,” said 
another, while his eyes fairly blazed with indigna- 
tion, “ and it is our duty to carry it through like 
honorable men.” 

The speaker glanced wrathfully at Stilpool while 
his remarks were followed by cries of “Right,” 
“ Proper,” “ That’s so.” 

“ Yes,” said another ,“ if there is anything I hate it 
is a cowardly betrayal of confidence. If we are not 
men enough to carry out the company’s instructions 
to the letter, then, in the name of all that is decent, 
let us return like men and say so.” 

This was followed by shouts of approval ; encour- 
aged, the speaker added: 

“ Don’t let it be said that we are ungrateful for 
the favors and honors conferred upon us by the 
company. Let us show that some of us at least are 
worthy of confidence.” 

Again there was a wild demonstration of approval 
and the committee which had become more and 
more excited acted as if they would do personal vio- 
lence to Mr. Stilpool. 

Some of them even approached him in a menacing 
manner. 

Throughout the uproar he sat silent. At first he 
smiled a cynical smile, then his face flushed and 
again it became pale; and as he saw the menacing 
committeemen approach, he rose to his feet, in a 


rage. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 377 

“ Take your seats,” lie commanded ; and the com- 
mitteemen sank cowering in their seats, falling back 
as far from his chair as they could. 

“ By what right do you censure me, accuse me of 
treachery, of ingratitude, of cowardice? Who is the 
man that talks of the honors and favors of the com- 
pany? Why did he beg to be relieved of them ? 
Who is the man who will dare go back to the new 
administration which is hiding from the dangers 
they sent him to meet, and say he desires to be re- 
lieved of his trust ? 

“ Gentlemen, when you can look at things as they 
are and are ready to talk sense send for me. Good 
day.” 

With that he walked out of the room, leaving the 
committee in a helpless state of amazement. 

It did not take them long to recover and then 
they saw that the plan suggested by Mr. Stilpool 
was the only one by which they could escape being 
placed among the laborers. 

It was doubtful if they could escape such a fate 
even by that means. 

To carry out such a plan would require a firm, 
strong hand and they, every man of them, knew 
what Mr. Stilpool was. 

“ Gentlemen,” said Mr. Hiton after the assemblage 
had somewhat recovered from its surprise, “ I never 
heard so much rot talked in a given space of time 
before, and I am ashamed to say that I did not 


378 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


know it was rot until the old gentleman (Mr. Stilpool 
was generally spoken of as the old gentleman by 
both old and young) punctured it. When I think 
of it, by St. Gregory, 1 am mad enough to kick my- 
self. Treachery, trust, honor lo that skulking crowd 
of time-servers up there in the country. It makes 
me sick to think of it. What will we do ? ” 

‘‘Do?” said one of the committee. “Do? We 
have been talking a great deal of what is honorable 
and right. Let us now do what is manly and go to 
the old gentleman and apologize for our bad man- 
ners. 

“ The company is in the hands of a set of weak- 
headed schemers who will experiment it to death 
and one of the first experiments will be to deprive 
us of our rights and maybe ship us south, east or 
west as common laborers. 

“ There is no time to be lost. Our condition is 
desperate. It is the choice of two evils and cer- 
tainly the old gentleman offers us the one which is 
the least offensive.” 

“ That’s true,” shouted a number. 

“ Let us see the old gentleman,” said some one and 
they started off. 

They were not particularly dignified in their 
method of seeking an audience with Mr. Stilpool, but 
they were excited and they wanted to act at once. 

They found him in one of the committee rooms 
and as they trooped in they grouped at one end. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


379 


The ex-president was writing at a table. He 
looked lip, surprised. 

There was an awkward pause for a moment, then 
Mr. Hiton stepped forward and said : 

“ Mr. Stilpool, we wish to apologize for our dis- 
courteous treatment of you.” 

I beg pardon, Mr. Hiton,” interrupted Mr. Stil- 
pool, ‘‘ I do not care to waste time listening to apolo- 
gies; I said that when these gentlemen were ready 
to talk sense, I will be willing to associate with 
them. If any gentleman has anything to propose 
or desires to discuss the plan which I suggested, I 
am at their service. But if they come here to con- 
sume time in flinging out wild charges in wild and 
ungentlenianly language, then I beg to be excused.” 

The committee hastened to assure Mr. Stilpool 
that such was not their desire and the ex-president’s 
plan was adopted as he presented it. 

As the discussion closed, one of the members said: 

When will we ask the company’s permission to 
make this great change ? ” 

‘‘ After we have made the change,” said Mr. Stil- 
IDOol dryly. “ It will save it a great deal of trouble 
— and,” he added, meaningly, “ it may save us some.” 

The work was begun at once and pushed with 
great vigor. Inside of a few weeks nearly two hun- 
dred new villages were laid out in different parts of 
the country comparatively adjacent to the great city. 

The laborers entered into the enterprise with 


380 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


spirit, for they felt that the change would be benefi- 
cial. They were assisted by the laborers Avho had 
been sent out of the city by the directory. 

They were supplied with tents pending the build- 
ing of houses and food Avas plentiful. 

These villages were from two to five miles apart 
and three or four different branches of industry were 
established in each village; not more than twenty- 
five operators were allowed to work in each shop or 
factory. 


THE REIGN OE SELElSHNESS. 


381 


CHAPTER XLV. 

THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED SUPPLY COMPANY 
REVOKED. 

In the mean time the committee had sent daily 
dispatches to the company’s headquarters. These 
dispatches had the effect of discouraging the return 
of the board to its city offices. 

The board was having a merry time at its suburban 
headquarters. 

The unlucky fifty were a constant source of 
amusement to the directors who got off all sorts of 
jokes at their expense as they thought of them toil- 
ing in the hot city for the benefit of the company, 
especially as it was well understood that they were 
to be ousted from their seats in the directory as soon 
as their labors were finished. And singular as it 
may seem, the unlucky fifty had their jokes at the 
expense of the other directors. 

Mr. Stilpool then drafted a bill or law which read 
as follows : 

AN ACT 

To limit the amount of capital which shall he used in 
the conduct of commercial, manufacturing, farming and other 
industries by individuals, co-partnerships, corporations and 
syndicates, and to secure a more equitable distribution of 


382 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


products, and to protect the working and middle classes from 
the oppressive use of large capitals. 

Be it Enacted 

Section One. — No individual, co-partnership, corporation, 
syndicate or combination of individuals shall use more money 
or capital in the conduct of business than the amount desig- 
nated by the commissioners herein provided for. 

Section Two. — The use of money or capital in excess of 
the amounts designated by said commissioners is a misde- 
meanor. Any person violating or causing the violation of the 
provisions of this Act shall be punished by a fine and imprison- 
ment, and such excess of money or capital shall be forfeited. 

Section Three. — At the general election there shall be 
chosen three commissioners for each department, whose duty 
it shall be to ascertain the minimum amount of money or capi- 
tal required to conduct each class of business or industry in 
the several departments, and to fix the several amounts of 
capital to be so used at the lowest amount which may be used 
to conduct each stated industry or business, having in view 
the object of distributing the various industriesand businesses 
amongst the greatest number of people over the greatest area 
of territory. 

This act applies to all corporations, firms and individuals, 
except to the United Supply Company. 

“ This law,” said Mr. Stilpool, “ does not in any 
way interfere with vested interests or vested rights. 
It does not take a dollar or a dollar’s worth of 
property from any man. It simply prevents men or 
combinations of men from so using their money or 
property as to injure or ruin men who have small 
capitals. It will effectually i^rotect the poor from 
the rich.” 

Mr. Stilpool then sent Mr. Hiton and Col. Reed to 
the company’s headquarters with a copy of the law. 

The president’s reception of these gentlemen told 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS, 


383 


them plainly that he longed for the time when he 
would see them toiling in the laborers’ quarter. 

Hiton and Reed told a fearful story of their 
struggle with the epidemic and its results. They did 
not scruple about exaggerating. They had insisted 
on being quarantined and fumigated before they ap- 
proached the headquarters of the directory. 

After telling their story, part truth and part 
fancy, they said that there was a possibility of a 
rival organization springing up which would be 
carried on by foreign capitalists. 

The president and his immediate friends who 
fonned the governing committee of the company 
laughed at the suggestion of competition and the 
delegates from the city allowed them to think over 
the matter. 

Said Mr. Hiton to his colleague : “ They will want 
to know more about the foreign capitalists soon.” 

In spite of their laughter the president and his 
friends were startled by the suggestion of competi- 
tion. 

The president lost no time in calling the governing 
committee together that they might ask one and 
another whether there was anything in the sugges- 
tion of competition. 

They believed they had the machinery of their 
own company well in hand, although the heavy 
losses had somewhat impaired its resources. 

They knew that if there was to be any attempt at 


384 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


creating another company no better opportunity 
could be offered than Avas now presented. They 
knew that ready cash would do a great deal for a 
new organization with the legislative body of the 
country. 

As is the case Avith weak men who get control of 
great enterprises, they were easily alarmed and were 
ready to turn anywhere for aid, but they did not 
dare to ask aid of Mr. Stilpool. 

Such a course would proclaim their weakness. 
In a moment of inspiration it occurred to one of the 
coterie that Hiton was rather intimate with Stilpool 
and he might suggest some Avay of meeting the diffi- 
culty. And in this way,” said this wise man, “ we 
will get the benefit of Stilpool’s wisdom and experi- 
ence without giving him credit.” 

With that end in view, the president sent for Mr. 
Hiton and in a remarkably diplomatic way “ pumped 
him dry,” as his friends expressed it. 

It was a most singular fact that Mr. Hiton gave 
all the information he had — or made up to fit the 
occasion — with the air of a very innocent man who 
did not for a moment suspect that the astute gentle- 
man Avho AA^as questioning him was “ using him ” 
and ‘‘ pumping him dry.” 

Some of these gentlemen afterwards remarked 
with a chuckle that they did not think Hiton 
could be worked so easily.” 

As a result of the interview Mr. Stilpool’s “Lim 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


385 


ited Capital Law,” was passed at once and became a 
law through an act of the legislative body of the 
country, at the request of the directory. 

Mr. Stilpool smiled grimly when he received a 
copy of the law. 

‘‘ Now,” he said, ‘‘ we will soon dissolve the com- 
pany.” 

Never did the people work with greater enthu- 
siasm than did the laborers in building their villages. 
The houses and factories went up like magic, and no 
wonder, for it was an entire and beneficent change 
of living. 

They had shorter hours of labor. They worked 
in a pure atmosphere. They had good food and they 
were building themselves comfortable homes. There 
were no rows of houses. Eacli house was at least 50 
feet from its neighbor and 20 feet back from the 
street. 

Under the influence of the change they did better 
work than before and in a remarkably short space 
of time the products of the mills and shops began to 
flow into the city in a continuous stream. 

Soon the industries of the comiiany were in almost 
as prosperous a condition as before the epidemic. 

The governing committee of the company were 
stunned when they returned to the city at the 
changes which had been made. 

They were alarmed as well, and, although the pres- 
ident demanded in an arrogant manner to know 

25 


386 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


why these changes were made without notice to the 
company, he did not dare question the expediency 
of the move after he was informed that it was done 
in the interest of the company and saw how the in- 
dustries Avere flourishing. 

Under the new method of living and working, the 
laborers raj)idly developed a spirit of independence 
and at the flrst election they returned a majority of 
the legislature who were pledged to restore to the 
laborers their rights. 

One of the first measures introduced was a law 
revoking the charter of the company. 

This might have been beaten were it not for the 
fact that a great portion of the board of directory 
were dissatisfied with the new management of the 
company; there were almost daily quarrels in the 
board, and more attention was paid to inside bicker- 
ing than to outside interests. 

These quarrels Avere encouraged by Stilpool and 
the ‘‘ doomed committee ” as they were called. 

In the midst of the internal quarrels of the com- 
pany Mr. Stilpool went to the seat of the government 
and by the most strenuous efforts got the charter of 
the Great United Supply Company revoked. 

Then he argued with the executive officer all day 
long and by sheer force of will power and persist- 
ence compelled him to sign the bill revoking the 
charter. 

He saw the bill duly signed and filed, and bidding 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


38 ' 


the executive officer a cordial good-evening left the 
executive chamber. 

As he passed out he saw the representatives of the 
company in the anteroom waiting to be heard in op- 
position to the bill. 

He smiled as, bowing courteously to them, he said: 

‘‘Now it is your turn, gentlemen.” 

But the executive officer had directed his secre- 
tary to say that he would see no other deputations 
that evening. 

The representatives of the company were not dis- 
pleased at being relieved of a disagreeable task for 
that evening, at least, and while they were sending 
a dispatch to the effect that the matter had gone 
over for the day, Mr. Stilpool was telegraphing the 
news all over the country that the charter of the 
company was revoked. 


388 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XLVI. 

A HAPPY PEOPLE. 

The effect of the revocation of the charter of the 
Great United Supply Company upon the people was 
wonderful. 

It seemed as if they would go crazy; every method 
of expressing joy was resorted to over and over 
again. 

Meetings were held, bonfires lighted, fireworks 
displayed and processions were moving all the time. 

It was more than a week before the people 
thought of settling down to the every-day affairs of 
life and then they broke out again and had celebra. 
tion after celebration. 

Some mischief was done and fears were expressed 
that the celebrations would end in disorder if not in 
anarchy. 

Then the wisdom of dividing the laborers up into 
small settlements and villages became apparent. 

The vicious and boisterous in these little com- 
munities were so few in numbers that every attempt 
at disturbance and outrage was checked almost in- 
stantly. 

Even if there had been no formal government, the 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 389 

well-meaning people so far outnumbered the wrong- 
doers or mischievous that any attempt at disorder 
would have been instantly checked. 

There need be no fear of prolonged riots or anarchy 
or popular disturbance except where all classes are 
herded together in the demoralizing poverty which 
is indigenous to great cities. 

Great cities are more demoralizing to morals and 
society than all other causes combined. 

A most determined attempt was made by the 
company to have the action of legislature recon- 
sidered and the company’s charter restored. 

A large number of the directors went to the seat 
of government ready to purchase the votes of the 
legislators at any price, and they might have suc- 
ceeded were it not for the fact that the laborers, 
hearing of the action of the company, came down 
upon the capital in swarms. They surrounded the 
capitol and acted in such a menacing manner that 
the motion of reconsideration was lost. In fact the 
legislators were given to understand in no unmean- 
ing terms that if they voted in the company’s in- 
terests they would never reach their homes alive. 

The effects of the company were sold, in most in- 
tances on time to the laborers. 

The railroads were split up into small companies 
and every branch of business was carried on with as 
small a capital as possible. 

In a very short time things were running smoothly. 


390 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Every community had its small shoe factory, its 
little woollen mill, its cotton mill, and its flour or 
grist mill; its dozen or half a dozen stores, its 
gardens and small farms. 

This was a very wasteful way of manufacture ac- 
cording to political economists, for it took one-third 
more operatives to do the work; but, on the other 
hand, the operatives worked shorter hours in better 
workshops and got better pay. There were a thou- 
sand times as many employers as there had ever 
before been in the country. 

Everything cost more. Necessaries of life were 
not cheap, but everybody could have employment 
and everybody had the wherewithal to purchase 
what he needed. 

It matters not how dear necessaries of life may be 
if one has the money to purchase them ; on the other 
hand, it matters not how cheap they may be if one 
has not the money to purchase. 

When the prices of necessaries go below the cost 
of production it proclaims two undesirable condi- 
tions: first, that some one or class has made a loss in 
the production; second, that there is an inability 
among the masses to purchase from lack of money. 

The peace which comes of content spread over 
the land in a way which it had never known before. 

The new order of things brought the people short 
hours of labor, plenty of needed rest, and time for 
self-improvement. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


391 


In the matter of income there was but small dif- 
ference between master and man, and their ways of 
living were similar. 

The bitter experience of the past tanght the people 
that extremes in methods of living lead to oppres- 
sion and cruelty; consequently all attempts at 
extravagance and ostentatious show was discoun- 
tenanced. 

A man was not what his money gave him the ap- 
pearance of being, but what he actually was — skilled 
as a mechanic, an operative, a salesman, a doctor, an 
artist or an author. 

There was one great boon which the company had 
conferred on the people. It had eliminated the 
drinking habit. 

The horrors of intemperance had disappeared from 
among the people. The company early in its career, 
by law or rule, absolutely cut off the supply of 
liquor. 

The enforcement of this law at once increased the 
efficiency of the workers and prevented drunken 
outbreaks and brawls. 

This habit of temperance the people maintained in 
their new condition. 

Another good result of the company’s domination 
was the common level upon which it had placed the 
people. 

This engendered a spirit of tolerance, forbearance, 
and sympathy among the people. 


392 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


The adaptability of humanity to circumstances 
was exemplified in a marvellous degree. 

The wild extravagance of the directory and the 
grinding poverty of the common people or laborers, 
had given place to a happy mean which was ex- 
hilarating, and although the ex-members of the 
directory grumbled and complained for a time, they 
were so few in number that their complaints went 
unheeded. 

The people, lifted as they were to a condition of 
comfort which, compared with their former condi- 
tion, was most happy, entered upon the new life 
with enthusiasm, and in a spirit of friendly rivalry, 
each man and each family trying to outdo the other 
in efforts to get as much as possible out of life. 

As soon as they had been settled in their new 
condition they began to beautify their homes and 
villages, and this was done in a way which entailed 
the least outlay of money. This spirit speedily de- 
veloped into a craze with the result of elevating the 
taste of the citizens to the highest point which the 
world had ever known. 

This spirit of rivalry extended from village to 
village and gave the inhabitants employment of the 
jjleasantest kind for their leisure. 

The great desideratum was to make all improve- 
ments with the smallest outlay of money, and the 
results in many instances were wonderful. 

At the outset of the change, men shook their 


THE REIGN OE SELFISHNESS. 393 

heads and predicted that the lazy, shiftless, and the 
vicious could not be made to conform to the new 
and kindly condition without the incentive of dire 
want; but experience taught them that an ounce 
of practical experience was worth many pounds of 
theory. 

Relieved of the eternal fear of starvation or the 
poor-house and the awful struggle for bread, the 
people found comfort in living, and faithfully per- 
formed their share of labor because it was the 
custom and fashion. 

In a beautiful valley to the west of the great city 
and fifty miles away, the village of Stilpool was 
planted. 

It was named in compliment to Mr. Stilpool who 
had taken up his residence there. He had a little 
money and he started a woollen cloth mill. 

Col. Reed had a cotton mill and Leon started a 
factory for finishing cloth. 

Leon found it difficult to manage his business at 
first, but the workmen did all they could to aid 
instead of hinder the conduct of the business. 

There was a spirit of chivalry and loyalty among 
the men which made the management almost a pas- 
time, instead of a labor. 

Those of the men who were disposed to be lazy or 
inclined to hinder the work, soon found that such a 
spirit would not be tolerated. 

The work was not hard and there was no strain 


394 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


on either the workmen, the superintendents, or the 
proprietors. 

As a social factor Millicent, Maud Holt (now Mrs. 
Dr. Clark), and Grace Kirby with a number of other 
ladies residing in Stilpool organized a society where 
they taught children sewing. 

This was very successful and afforded a pleasant 
pastime to the ladies. 

They made many garments in the course of a few 
meetings. 

“ What will we do with these things ? ” asked one 
of tlie ladies. 

“Why, give them to some of the poor people,” 
suggested Maud. 

“ That is a good plan,” said Millicent. 

“ But where are the poor ? ” asked one of the 
ladies. 

The ladies looked at one another inquiringly. 

“ Do you know of any ? ” asked Millicent of one 
of the ladies. 

“ No,” said the lady. 

“ Do you ? ” she asked of another. 

“No,” said the lady addressed; “there are some 
who are poor, but their friends are able to take care 
of them.” 

A committee was appointed to canvass the village 
and they returned with the report that there was 
not one person in the village who would accept 
charity. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


395 


One of tlie ladies looked in an amazed and help- 
less way at the pile of clothing as she said to Grace 
Kirby: 

“ What can we do with them ? Isn’t it too bad 
that there are no poor to give them to 'i ” 

No, it isn’t,” said Grace. “ I am glad of it eveJ 
if we have to throw them away. I hope I shall 
never see a beggar again.’' 

And so the industrial feature, the ladies’ society 
as an aid to the poor, was a failure. 

In each village one or two afternoons in each 
week were devoted to out-door exercises which 
were participated in by both sexes. 

Almost every evening there was an entertainment 
of some kind. 


39G 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XLVIL 

LEON ASKS A QUESTION. 

In the twilight, with their forms reflected in a 
quiet nook of the river, Leon and Millicent slowly 
walked through a glade of the grove which bordered 
the outskirts of Stilpool. 

It was one of those restful days which visit us in 
the autumn. 

As they walked, Millicent had her hand on Leon’s 
shoulder. 

Sometimes they would stop and look down into 
the river at their reflected images. 

‘‘We look as if we were one person with two 
heads,” said Leon with a smile. 

Blushing and laughing Millicent moved away as 
she said: 

“Now, we don’t.” 

Drawing her to him Leon said: “ Now we are one 
again. Why can’t we continue so forever ? ” 

Millicent hung her head and said nothing. 

“Look up, little girl,” said Leon, tipping her un- 
der the chin. “ How long have we been engaged ? ” 

“ Oh, ever so long.” 

“Then, why not get married? I have worked 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 397 

hard and all our troubles are passed. We have no 
anxieties and you cannot now say that I would be 
neglecting any public duty.” 

Here he smiled as he tilted Millicent’s head back 
and added: In assuming the care of this little girl, 
would I? ” 

Are you sure you Avould not ? ” she said. 

Yes, very sure.” 

A troubled, puzzled look came over her face as 
she said: 

‘‘Leon, we are very happy now; do you think we 
could be as happy if we made a change ? ” 

“ I will risk it,” said Leon, eagerly. 

“ Well, dear, as you please,” she said in a whisper. 

It had grown quite dark — so dark that the two 
figures seemed to have blended into one another. 
There were some sounds which seemed like half 
smothered protests, but when a few minutes after 
this couple emerged from the darkness of the grove 
into the comparative light of the open path, they 
seemed as happy as need be. 

Unannounced and without warning General Sin- 
clair had returned to his native country, and when 
Millicent returned from her walk all aglow with 
happiness, her father was awaiting her in the parlor. 

General Sinclair had aged terribly during his ab- 
sence and his arrogant, commanding air had given 
place to one of dependence and pleading. 


398 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Millicent was shocked at the change. If any of 
the resentment she had felt towards him for his 
harsh treatment of her remained, it was instantly 
effaced by a most tender sympathy when her father 
held out his arms to her with the pleading look of a 
man who fears he may be repulsed. 

One glance and Millicent threw herself into his 
arms. 

“ My poor father,” she said; and all past was for- 
gotten. 

Had he returned as he had left, stem and arro- 
gant, she would have met him coldly or even defi- 
antly; but now, as she looked into his eyes, now 
pleading instead of demanding, she felt almost con- 
science-stricken or at least in a manner responsible 
for the change. 

“ I have come,” he said, “ to ask my child to take 
care of me. Will you, Millie ? ” 

“ Yes, father, I will.” 

The general had invested his money abroad so 
advantageously that he had a fair income. He 
made arrangements to build an elaborate house, the 
only elaborate one in the village, but he changed his 
plans when informed that simplicity was the fashion 
of the day and that it would make him conspicu- 
ously unpopular to make a much greater showing 
than his neighbors. 

When he learned that Leon and Millicent were 
speedily to be married, he manifested so much dis- 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


399 


tress that even Leon consented to postpone the mar- 
riage indefinitely. 

If General Sinclair had met the proposed marriage 
in a spirit of antagonism, Leon and Millicent would 
have rebelled, but he merely made a weak, unreason- 
ing, childish opposition which was as tenacious as 
it w^as weak, and they were obliged to defer to his 
wishes lest some dire result might follow opposition 
to his desires. 

It was a sad disappointment to the lovers, and they 
strove in many ways to overcome his opposition, but 
this unreasoning hostility to the union of Leon and 
Millicent seemed to be the last fragment of his once 
strong wilL 

But Leon had no time to fret and pine over his ill 
fortune in this regard. There w^as something in the 
air which alarmed him, and alarmed all of the friends 
of the Limited Capital Law. 

There was an effort being made to repeal the law. 


400 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XLVIIT. 

WITHOUT SUFFERING AND DISTRESS LIFE IS 
INSIPID. 

‘‘This is a pretty way for the people of a village 
to waste their leisure time,” said an ex-director to 
Mr. Stilpool. 

“ Do you think so ? ” asked Mr. Stilpool. “ How 
would you have them spend their leisure time ? ” 

“At something serious and manly; something of 
practical value and importance.” 

“ Do you know of anything of more practical value 
and imjDortance than for a people to be as happy as 
they can be by the indulgence in healthy amuse- 
ments ? ” 

“ But,” said the man, “ they ought to work more.” 

“ There is no need for more work, for they will 
never want for the necessaries of life. They cannot 
become what was called rich, and why not be happy ? 
(Everybody used to try to get rich, but few suc- 
ceeded.) The serious affairs of life receive all the 
attention they require. What would you have the 
people do ? ” 

“ Do ? Why erect great buildings, great bridges, 
aqueducts and other creations which would be mon- 
uments to their industry.” 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


401 


The creation of those great monuments of which 
you speak is a relic of the past. The greatest of 
them have been erected by semi-civilized people in 
semi-civilized times. They are not proofs of enlight- 
enment. In fact, every great structure or creation, 
while it may speak of the skill of one great architect 
or engineer, also tells of the suffering of thousands, 
the robbery of thousands and it also tells a sickening 
story of trickery, fraud, and corruption. 

“ There never has been erected a great structure 
which has not cost more in money, worry, and the 
demoralization incident to the debauching and cor- 
ruption of public officials than the creation was 
worth to the people.” 

I think,” said the ex-director, that you exag- 
gerate.” 

“ On the contrary, I believe I could not exagger- 
ate, and if you will think of the great undertakings 
which you have known of or heard of, you must 
bear out my statement.” 

“ Then you mean to say that it is good for the 
people to spend their time doing as little work as 
possible and their leisure in pastimes rather than in 
looking after the graver things of life ? ” 

“My friend,” answered Stilpool, “there are few 
things in life which are entitled to grave considera- 
tion now, and the fewer the better. All that man 
needs is food, clothing and shelter, and after he has 
these elements he wants recreation. He does not 

26 


402 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


want gravity. The gravest fish is an oyster, the 
gravest bird is an owl, the gravest animal is an ass, 
the gravest man is a fool. 

When I see a lot of men pottering gravely over 
what is really not serious, it reminds me of a consul- 
tation of apes chattering over a cocoanut. 

“ The only real serious thing in life heretofore has 
been the attempt of men to accumulate abnormal 
amounts of property. Out of that grew the two 
other serious efforts of life: the attempt, successful 
and unsuccessful, lawfully and unlawfully, of men 
to get their neighbors’ property (oftentimes the law- 
ful methods were as iniquitous as the unlawful). 

“ The other serious thing in life was man’s efforts 
to keep his property in spite of the never-ceasing 
efforts of people (lawfully and unlawfully) to get it 
away from him. 

‘‘ These two efforts or motives in myriads of forms 
kept man in a feverish state of activity which was 
demoralizing to him mentally, physically and 
morally.” 

‘^The same thing exists to-day,” replied the ex- 
director. 

The same thing exists to-day only in a few iso- 
lated instances. In the past it was universal and 
there was no help for it; every man was obliged to 
stand on guard over his property. The least relaxa- 
tion, want of skill or sagacity meant loss. Ah, what 
a pitiless, cruel life it was! 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


403 


“ The rich man was obliged to be vigilant to keep 
what he had and to get more; the middle class and 
poor, to keep up appearances or to supply their sim- 
plest needs. To-day every man has sufficient for his 
needs and men in business only compete as men, 
not as men backed by an almost resistless force — 
money. 

“ To-day every man has an equal chance according 
to his ability. He knows that no man can use more 
capital than he in the conduct of a rival business. 
He knows it is a contest of ability and not of money. 
He is not in daily fear that some rich man or combi- 
nation of rich men will so manipulate their money 
as to crush him or crowd him out of business and 
ruin him. 

‘^It was this danger and dread more than any 
other which made men savagely selfish in their deal- 
ings and intercourse, not only in business but in 
their social relations. 

In those times the penalty of liberality and un- 
selfishness was ruin. To-day men are relieved of the 
menace of the unlimited use of capital. The law has 
placed a check upon the use of money. 

“ Men need not now fear large capitals and they 
can afford to be liberal , unselfish, and humane in 
dealing with one another. 

“ The motive for accumulating large amounts of 
money no longer exists, for the means of doing it 
are barred by law.’’ 


404 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


“ But there are evasions of the law,” said the ex- 
director. 

There are violations and evasions of every law,” 
answered Mr. Stilpool, but the evasions are petty 
and do not affect the general good result.” 

Mr. Stilpool was right in the main, but the limited 
capital law did not eradicate the wolfish instinct in 
man which is called ambition and which exhibits 
itself in a desire to excel and in excelling to take 
from his fellows, and if need be in so excelling, tear 
down, crush and trample on them. 

This wolfishness in man has ever been the bane of 
the human race; for protection against it govern- 
ment is maintained. 

There are many apologies for its existence. It is 
often called “ laudable ambition.” 

Unchecked, it is the most cruel and most mis- 
chievous of all the elements which go to make up 
the human motive power. Unchecked and unlimited 
it is social anarchy. It assumes its most hideous 
forms in the pursuit of wealth. In that form it car- 
ries misery directly and indirectly into every house- 
hold and to every individual, rich as well as poor. 
In that form it is the scourge of the human race and 
is pitiless beyond all comjDarison, for it wages inces- 
sant war upon the aged, the inexperienced, the weak, 
and the infirm. Society has placed a limit upon 
everything which man controls, with the exception 
of the use which he may make of his wealth. Why 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


405 


this exception? In the pursuit and accumulation of 
wealth, selfishness grows strong and runs riot. 

There were a good many elements which kept the 
peoifie of the different villages in what might be 
called a mild state of excitement, but there was none 
of that excitement which is made up of misery, op- 
pression, and wrong-doing. 

Among the morbid spirits who craved that sort of 
excitement, there was a great deal of complaint of 
the insipidity ” of the life they were leading. 

There was a certain class of people who could not 
live unless they heard of murders, robbery, and 
starvation; unless they saw disease, suffering and 
misery and disasters; unless there was constantly 
presented to their view the contrast of resplendent 
opulence and picturesque poverty; unless there 
was plenty of unhappiness around them they were 
unhappy; they were dissatisfied with the monotony 
of the life which secured to every one of the earth’s 
creatures enough to eat, enough to wear and shelter. 
This life was too tame. 

The horrible condition of affairs where men op- 
pressed men with all the attendant cruelty and bru- 
tality was to them a relish which added piquancy to 
life, and without which life was tasteless. 

These people wanted to be better than their neigh- 
bors; to wear better clothes, to eat better food, to 
live in better houses, and to have less fortunate peo- 
ple envy their prosperity. 


406 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


This was a spirit which was fostered and fanned 
by certain of the ex-directors of the company who 
sought to breed dissatisfaction with what they called 
the insipid times.” 

“ Let us have times when a man can win or lose 
something, when a man can show some nerve in bus- 
iness,” said one of the advocates of return to unlim- 
ited capital. 

As the people began to recover from the effects of 
their long period of practical servitude, as good food 
and healthy surroundings brightened their lives with 
a robust health to which they had long been stran- 
gers, the wolfishness in their natures began to reas- 
sert itself. 

The employers began trying to outdo each other 
in money-making. They strove to increase their 
factories and stores in size and capacity and to in- 
crease their capital. This was unnoticed for some 
time, but after a while its effect was felt and certain 
parties were detected, prosecuted, and punished. 

Then commenced a bitter struggle between what 
were known as the easy-goers ” — men who were 
content with a state of society which forbade men 
using their wealth or accumulations to ruin their 
fellow-manufacturers or merchants, but allowed men 
the fullest scope for the exercise of their abilities as 
business men and only limited their use of capital 
— and the ‘‘ rushers ” — men who desired to be allowed 
to use everything in the way of money and property 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


407 


which they had or could borrow for the purpose of 
increasing their own wealth and without regard to 
the consequences to their neighbors or the common- 
wealth. 

These were the people who were constantly vio- 
lating the limited-capital law and they were fre- 
quently detected and fined. 

Several of the members of the old directory made 
up their minds to fight the law. Having this end in 
view they combined their moneys and made a bold 
effort to upset the law. 

‘‘ Give me $50,000,” said Sidney Griffin to some of 
his associates, “ and I can buy a repeal. It is my 
opinion that the people are thoroughly sick of this 
namby-pamby way of living.” 

I am of the same opinion,” said ex-director Rus- 
sell. 

“I believe in making an effort in this matter,” 
said another. 

What do you propose ? ” asked Gus Wilmot. 

‘‘I would suggest that we make a determined 
stand and fight the question to the highest court,” 
said Griffin. 

Well, let us put up a fund to fight it,” said 
Wilmot. 

A subscription was made up and a plan was 
adopted for making what they called a test case. 

A few days after, complaint was made that John 
Rand had violated the law in that he used more than 


m 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


$5,000 capital wliicli was the limit allowed for the 
conduct of the clothing business. 

The violation was a flagrant one and there was no 
attempt at concealment. 

The action was begun for the penalty which was 
forfeiture of the amount of capital in excess of the 
limit. 

There was a great deal of indignation at the way 
the matter was begun. 

There was in the attitude of Rand a tinge of the 
old-time arrogance and insolence of the directory. 

“ I deny the right of the state to say what a man 
shall do with his wealth or to limit its use,’’ was 
his answer to the charge. 

Rand was convicted. An appeal was taken and 
the judgment was affirmed. 

In deciding the question, the court among other 
things said: 

This is not a question in which individual inter- 
ests should be considered. It is one which alfects 
the whole people; and individual hardships, if there 
be any, must be ignored. 

“ The benefit of the greatest number must be the 
first consideration. 

“ It is claimed that there are hard-working, self- 
denying men who are ambitious to accumulate wealth 
and build up fortunes to the end that in their declin- 
ing years they may not be a charge on their friends 
or the public. That thrift is laudable and should 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


409 


be encouraged by the state. That to deny a man 
the right to use all the capital he can get in any way 
he pleases is an encroachment on his liberty. 

On the other hand, it is urged that the unre- 
stricted use of money in business has deprived ninety- 
nine one-hundredths of the people of the world of a 
fair chance of making a comfortable living. 

‘‘That the unlimited use of money in business 
has been the cause of great corruption in public life 
as well as wrongs in private life. 

“ Laudable ambition should always be encouraged 
by the courts, but an ambition which in its results 
ruins hundreds of thousands of citizens and diverts 
a great i)ortion of the result or earnings of the la- 
bors of the whole people to the benefit of a few of 
what are called ambitious or thrifty men, is not laud- 
able. Rich men are not the best citizens. 

“The relative numbers benefited by the un- 
limited use of capital can be best understood by 
referring to the actual statistics which show that 
when men were permitted to use unlimited money 
in business, more than eighty-five per cent have 
failed, and these failures were in the main due to 
the ojDpressive use which was made of large capitals. 

“ This does not leave any doubt in the mind of the 
court as to which side of this question is beneficial 
to the greatest number of the citizens of the state. 

“ If this country recognized a favored class, one 
which should be granted special privileges because 


410 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


of peculiar abilities or endowments, there might be 
some reason for the interference of the courts for 
the protection of such a class, even in the unre- 
strained use of their money by those avIio have large 
possessions ; but there is no such class recognized by 
law. If such a class were tolerated the court cannot 
see why such privileges should be limited to those 
who have talent for money-getting. 

The artist, the physician, the architect, the farm- 
er, the artisan, the scientist, the laborer, should all 
have special privileges other than those which nature 
affords them. Either of these classes are, from a 
practical point of view, more worthy of such privi- 
leges than the money-getter, and yet for success they 
must depend solely upon their own abilities or skill 
and not on accumulated force owned or borrowed. 

‘‘ It is not true that man has an inherent right to 
use his property as he pleases, without regard to the 
consequences to his neighbor or the state. 

“ Such a right has never existed. Property of all 
kinds and its use are subject to inquiry and regula- 
tion by the state, and if use is made of property or 
money which is inimical to the interests of the peo- 
ple at large, or even a class, it becomes the duty of 
the state to regulate and restrict it. 

The limited capital law is one which in no way 
interferes with any reasonable ambition of men; it 
protects ninety per cent of the state’s citizens from 
cruel oppression. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


411 


“ It does not interfere with the liberty of the citi- 
zen, for it is applied to all alike.” 

There was universal rejoicing at the announce- 
ment of this decison and the people settled down to 
work. 

Everything which tended to show an increase of 
capital or of individual wealth was watched and 
commented upon. 

From time to time merchants would try to evade 
the law, but detection was almost sure to follow 


412 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER XLIX. 

THE LIMITED CAPITAL LAW MUST BE REPEALED. 

The dissatisfied parties determined to have the 
law repealed. 

They would have turned to their old-time methods 
of corruption, but did not for the reason that they 
could not raise sufficient money. 

This was one of the happy results of the cutting- 
down of incomes. 

Still the arguments used by them had more effect 
on the legislature than at first was considered possi- 
ble. They found that there was a good deal of vi- 
tality in the suggestion that life was not worth liv- 
ing unless there were classes; unless there were 
people who were oppressed and people who were 
oiDpressing; unless there was the stimulus which 
comes with danger; unless some x)eople were suffer- 
ing from the cruel effect of grinding x)overty ; unless 
some must work in almost hopeless poverty, while 
others lived in luxury and extravagance. 

The wolfish instinct of the gambler was still firmly 
rooted in the people and aserted itself in a restless 
desire of some people to better their fortunes at the 
expense of their fellows. The desire to lord it over 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


413 


and rule their fellows was still apparent. Some men 
hungered for riches. 

The bitter experience of the peoj)le with the com- 
pany seemed to have been effaced from their memo- 
ries. The prox)osal of Griffin and his associates for 
a return to the use of unlimited capital rather aston- 
ished Mr. Hiton and Leon. 

Mr. Hiton called on Tom Drier who was the owner 
of a small iron mill. 

He had heard that Drier was among those who 
were active in the movement for the repeal of the 
limited-capital law. 

Mr. Drier was in his office. 

“ I hear, Drier, that some of you people are going 
to repeal the limited law — if you can.” 

‘‘ There isn’t very much if about it,” said Drier. 

“ You think not ? ” asked Hiton, incredulously. 

‘^That’s my opinion,” said Drier, confidently. 

“ You might as well try to move a mountain,” said 
Hiton. 

‘‘Well, we will move a mountain if the limited- 
capital law is a mountain.” 

“ Aside from chaflSng,” said Hiton, “ what are you 
fellows after ? ” 

“Just what I said: repeal.” 

“ Nonsense ! Why ? ” 

“ Why, because we are tired of this style of liv- 
ing,” said Drier. 

“ Isn’t it a comfortable way of living ? ” 


414 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Too comfortable ; when everybody is comfortable 
it becomes monotonous. You want some snap in life.’^ 

‘‘ Why, you get all the snap you want now, surely. 
There is something going on all the time to amuse 
and interest us,” said Hiton. 

“ Oh, there is plenty going on, but the trouble is 
there are no big men. We are nearly all alike. 
Here I am plodding along making a living and 
nothing more.” 

‘‘Well, you make a comfortable living, don’t 
you ? ” asked Hiton. 

“Yes, and so does every workman. Why, my 
foreman is just as well thought of as I am, and he 
makes nearly as much. His family dress as well as 
mine and he lives in as good a house.” 

“ What is the objection to that ? ” asked Hiton. 

“ What objection ? Why every objection. I like 
to see distinctions in people.” 

“ The only distinction in this case would be as re- 
gards money and education. Your foreman is better 
educated than you are and as refined in his manners 
and as gentlemanly in appearance. Now, what dis- 
tinguishing mark would you put on him ? ” 

“ Oh, when a man runs a business, he should be a 
different kind of a being from his workmen and 
clerks.” 

“ How would you make him different ? W ould you 
have him shorter or longer or wiser or more foolish, 
or would you have him dress differently ? ” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


415 


‘‘ You know what I mean. The man who runs a 
business should have more money and live differ- 
ently. I want a chance to get rich,” said Drier. 

“You have as good a chance as anybody. You 
can be as rich as anybody.” 

“ I want a better chance than anybody, and I want 
to be richer than anybody. That is my idea.” 

“ Even if you had the right to use unlimited capi- 
tal in business, the chances are five thousand to one 
that you would not become rich. Yes, I will say 
that you will not have one chance in one hundred 
thousand of becoming rich.” 

“ I know that,” said Drier. 

“ When unlimited capital was allowed to be used, 
there was just as much chance of getting rich by 
gambling as in legitimate business, and ten times as 
many men lost their all in business as in gambling,” 
said Hiton. 

“ How do you make that out ? ” 

“ Why, by simply looking at the facts as they are 
or were. Every business man was trying to get rich, 
bending all his energies to that end. How many 
of them left any estate when they died ? What did 
they get out of all their worry and strife and labor ? 
An uncertain living. How many got more ? Now, 
they get a good living. They enjoy life, and they 
have no worry for their future or for the future of 
their families.” 

“ But that is not enough,” said Drier. 


416 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


It is more than nine hundred out of a thousand 
got formerly.” 

“ But, then, we had the snap and the incentive to 
win which made life interesting,” said Drier. 

“ I never knew a successful money-maker,” said 
Hiton. “ Mark you, a successful money-maker who 
did not cry out against the eternal strife which 
money-getting necessitated, who did not protest 
against the high pressure of business which fairly 
burned the life out of even successful business men 
and brought them to untimely graves. I have heard 
the best of them fairly moan as they cried: ‘ What 
is the use ? ’ ‘What does it all amount to ? ’ ‘ How 
much happier I would be if I could only do business 
without this body-destroying strain ! ^ 

“ In the past the most cruel burden that business 
men bore was debt. While he was in business he 
was always in debt, and he was obliged to rely on 
the promise to pay of others to meet his own in- 
debtedness. 

“ Now there are no debts, because the capital men 
have in business will not permit of giving credit. 
This change relieves business men of ninety per cent 
of the risk and uncertainty and worry which in for- 
mer times wore out their lives and kept them in a 
feverish state of excitement and uncertainty and 
practically destroyed their taste for rational recrea- 
tions.” 

“ Notwithstanding all you say,” said Drier, “ that 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


417 


feverishness and excitement is just what T am after. 
It is the only thing in life worth living for.” 

‘‘ You say it is the only thing in life worth living 
for ? Will you be willing to die if you don’t have 
it?” 

Yes,” said Drier, quickly. I would.” 

‘‘Well, then I guess you will have to die,” said 

Hiton, as he laughingly bade Drier good-by. 

27 


418 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER L. 

THE LIMITED CAPITAL LEAGUE. 

‘‘What do those lunatics want?” said Leon 
when Mr. Hiton told him of his interview with 
Drier. “ They will be mobbed if they are not care- 
ful.” 

“ Oh, it is simply a w^aste of time to pay any at- 
tention to them,” said Mr. Hiton. 

A bill to repeal the limited-capital law was intro- 
duced by one of the members of the legislature 
shortly after the above conversation and, to the sur- 
prise of the country, it received some support; in 
fact, much greater support than was anticipated. 

“ What do you think of it ? ” said Leon anxiously. 

“ Nothing at all,” answered Mr. Hiton. “ You Avill 
always find men willing to support any measure, no 
matter how hazardous or mischievous. It is the de- 
sire which some people have to go contrary to what 
is popular or right.” 

“ Then you think there is nothing serious in the 
showing of the last vote ? ” asked Leon. 

“ Not at all,” replied Hiton. “ The people are not 
fools.” 

A few days after a vote was taken on a motion to 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


419 


advance the bill and to the surprise of everybody it 
was carried. 

This is startling,” said Leon to Hiton. 

It is,” said Hiton, gravely. Those fellows have 
more strength than I had supposed.” 

What does it mean ? ” said Dr. Clark. 

It means,” said Hiton, that we must be up and 
doing.” 

“ I am going to the ca]3ital to-morrow,” said Mr. 
Stilpool. 

“ I am with you,” said Leon and Hiton. 

At the caj)ital they found the limited capitalists ” 
demomlized and the repealers jubilant. 

“ What is the matter here ? ” said Mr. Stilpool to 
Andrew Craft, one of the leaders of the opposition 
of the repeal. ‘‘ Are they all crazy ? ” 

‘‘They seem to be, but they are not,” replied 
Craft. “ The repealers are at their old tactics. They 
have organized a company with an enormous capital. 
It will be the first in the field and they say its affairs 
will be immensely profitable.” 

“ Well, what of that ? ” said Leon. “ It is illegal.” 

“ They propose to legalize it.” 

“ How ? ” 

“ Why, the same power that repeals the act can 
legalize the company,” replied Craft. 

“ But what has the legislature to do with that ? ” 
said Leon. “ How does that benefit the legislature ? ” 

“I’ll tell you,” said Craft, leaning forward and 


420 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


speaking in a whisper. ‘‘ They say that the pro- 
moters are distributing great blocks of stock among 
the members of the house.” 

What ! ” said Hiton, jumjDing to his feet. “ Who 
says so ? ” 

I know it,” said Craft in a convincing tone. 

‘‘ But the stock is of no value,” said Stiliiool. 

“ They say it will be and the boys are anxious to 
have it when it is made so. Griffin asserts in the 
most positive terms, that they have enough votes to 
carry the bill and they will remember their friends 
— and their enemies. By threats and arguments 
they have won over a large number of legislators 
who were bitterly opposed to the bill.” Then after a 
pause, There, gentlemen, you have the facts as 
they are.” 

There was a dead silence, and after a secret con- 
ference Mr. Stilpool said: 

‘‘Gentlemen, we must find out Avho are bribing 
and who are being bribed.” 

In the mean time the country had taken alarm. 

Demands for the death of the bill came pouring 
in from the constituencies by the tens of thousands, 
and counter-demands or i)etitions for the repeal 
poured in in great volume. 

The press was equally divided, and time-serving 
legislators were in a condition of uncertainty calcu- 
lated to drive them to the verge of insanity. 

From the moment of the adjournment of the 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


421 


house until the re-convening, members were besieged 
by the advocates and opponents of the bill. Many 
of them were scarcely allowed to sleep. 

Deputations representing one or the other side of 
the question were constantly at the elbow of the 
harassed members. 

The promotors of the bill were better organized 
and had the incentive of a direct reward, and they 
worked with the enthusiasm and eagerness and des- 
peration of gamblers whose all depended upon a 
turn of the market. They were positive and aggres- 
sive, while those who opposed the bill were simply 
negative. The opposition had nothing to offer and 
they could only ask that things be left as they were, 
and point to the horrors of the Supply Company’s 
rule. 

This was ridiculed by the repealers and regarded 
as an old story. 

Leave things as they are,” said the elder men. 

‘‘We want a change,” said the younger men. 

The bill was bitterly debated and all sorts of par- 
liamentary tactics were resorted to by each side to 
progress or retard the passage. 

“ If you vote for this bill you are a ruined man.” 

“ If you don’t vote for it you are a ruined man.” 

“ You need never return home if you vote for 
it.” 

“ All the j)rogressive men are for it, and only old 
women are opposed.” 


422 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


‘‘ It is better to be on the winning side ; for those 
who vote against it are marked men.” 

‘‘ Every instinct of our nature turns against the 
return to the hideously cruel system of unlimited 
caiiital.” 

Such were the contradictory communications the 
members received. 

For two weeks the warfare was kept up and the ' 
legislators were almost distracted for want of sleep. 
Some of them became sick and some of them lost 
their minds through the mental strain. 

But amidst all the vacillation there was one reso- 
lute body of men who never swerved from their 
original position. 

They kept in view what was for the best interests 
of the whole people, for every individual, whether 
he had the money-making talent or not; they be- 
lieved that while he was in the world he was enti- 
tled to live comfortably, and no matter what a man’s 
ability might be as a money-getter, he should not be 
allowed the privilege of keei)ing his fellow-creatures 
in a condition of wretchedness for the purpose of 
allowing him either to live in ostentatious extrava- 
gance or to enable him to hoard up wealth. 

These men kept that single idea in view and noth- 
ing could swerve them — neither threats, ridicule, nor 
promise of reward. They stood solidly together 
when everything seemed lost, and they refused 
everything in the way of compromise. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


423 


But for their uncompromising stand the bill would 
have passed the first week. 

There were times when it seemed as if the opposi- 
tion was only working for obstructive purposes, and 
many believed that it was only a question as to the 
length of time it would take to pass the repeal bill. 

Those who were wavering seemed inclined to go 
over to the repealers. 

Stilpool and his associates understood thoroughly 
the methods used to influence legislators, and they 
kept well posted on the movements of the re- 
pealers. 

He organized his associates in such a way that 
they did not interfere with each other’s work and as 
an auxiliary he organized a society known as the 
Limited Capital League, with branches in every 
village. 

Confident of success, the repealers became boastful 
and bold and they made promises and statements in 
the most reckless manner. They even let it be 
known to whom stock had been given as well as the 
amounts, and to whom promised. 

In their certainty of success they became insolent 
and treated some of their lukewarm supporters in a 
very cavalier manner. 

Said Griffin, addressing some of the members who 
were hesitating, ‘‘We don’t care whether you are 
with us or not. We have enough votes without 
you. Here is the list,” and he exhibited a roll of 


424 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


the members with a check mark opposite most of 
the names. 

The list was a startling one and caused the waver- 
ing to draw their breath. 

“ What "assurance have we that we will be taken 
care of if we stand by you ? ” said Mr. W illiams, the 
spokesman of the deputation. 

‘‘We make no promises7’ said GrifRn, in an in- 
sulting tone. “ You can be with us if you like, and 
you will be better off than if you vote against us. 
That is all we have to say; gentlemen, good-day.” 
And the deputation felt themselves dismissed. 

“ I will be hanged if I vote for it anyway, now,” 
said George Collins, one of the members. 

The others said nothing. 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


425 


CHAPTER LI. 

LIZZIE AT THE CAPITAL. 

Augustus Wilmot was the leader of the repeal- 
ers in the legislature. To him the repealers looked 
for instruction. He had everything in hand, and he 
felt that he was to revel in wealth once more. He 
felt triumphant, and he sent for Lizzie that she 
might be with him in the hour of his victory. 

Lizzie came — the same sweet Lizzie, with the same 
dimples in her cheeks and chin, a little deeper per- 
haps. The same round cheeks, a little rounder. 
The same brown eyes a shade more thoughtful, and 
oh, such a merry, wdse look coming out of them. 
The same brown hair with a little more of the gold 
shining through it. The same willowy figure, but a 
little less willowy. She was the same sweet little 
body who was carried through all the troublous 
times on cushions of downy softness. No care, no 
trouble, no worry had come to this favored child of 
fortune, and she came to the capital with her beam- 
ing, wistful smile which touched a sympathetic chord 
in every heart. 

She was not dressed in as expensive apparel as in 
former time, but no one would say that this de- 


42G 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


tracted from her winsome appearance, for to her aid 
she had summoned a sweet womanly taste which by 
a few coquettish touches, as by a fairy wand, trans- 
formed coarse fabric into garments of striking 
beauty. 

Hello, Gus,” said Lizzie as Wilmot met her at 
the depot. ‘‘ What do you want me to bother you 
for, old fellow ? ” and she pulled his head down to 
hers so that their lips met. 

‘‘ Why, Lizzie,” Wilmot protested, ‘‘see all those 
people looking.” 

“ Oh, my ! ” she said, looking shocked as she 
blushed crimson. “ I don’t care,” she added, “ they 
have lips and they kiss too, don’t they ? ” 

She put her bag and parcels into his hands and 
j)ushed her arm through his, as she said : 

“ What can you want me here for in your great 
business ? ” 

“ I’ll tell you,” he said smiling at her round eyes, 
“ when we get home.” 

At his rooms in the hotel Wilmot did the kissing. 
He almost squeezed the breath out of the little 
woman. She submitted, nor did she say a word, 
until he sat down to recover his breath. Then she 
sat on his lap as she asked with a pout, “ Is that 
all ? ” 

“ Do you want to kill a fellow ? ” he said. 

“ Wouldn’t it be a pleasant way to die ? ” she said, 
smiling. 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


427 


Then he told her of his position as leader of his 
side, advocating the repeal of the limited-cax)ital 
law. He told her of the number of votes he had 
secured and the amounts of stock and bonds i^rom- 
ised and given to each member on his side. 

He told her who were distributing stock to the 
members for their votes. 

“ And how much does my darling get ? ” she said, 
as she toyed with his mustache. 

“Wait till I show you.” 

Wilmot went to a desk and took out a great pile 
of bonds and stock. 

“ See that,” he said; “that is worth $2,000,000.” 

“ $2,000,000! ” said Lizzie, framing her mouth for a 
whistle. “ Goodness, aren’t they kind to you ! ” 

“ Not a bit of it,” said AVilmot. “ They wouldn’t 
give me a dollar if they could help it. I forced it 
out of them, dollar by dollar, and they almost got 
me in a position where they could have swindled 
me out of it. They are a lot of scoundrels and I 
would like to send them to jail, every one of them.” 

“ O Gus, take me driving, won’t you ? ” cried Liz- 
zie, suddenly, being tired of too much business. 

And they went driving; and as they were driving 
many of the members and men about town envied 
Wilmot his charming companion. 

Lizzie was taking a walk the next day. Wilmot 
was at the legislature, when she met Leon and they 
took lunch together. 


428 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Lizzie was full of W ilmot’s good fortune and she 
talked about it with enthusiasm. She told of the 
stock and of the men who had the distributing of 
it among the members and of the members to whom 
it was given — all this as far as she could remember. 

“Isn’t Wilmot smart, eh ?” she said. 

“Yes,” said Leon, “and he deserves all he will 
get.” 

“ He is awfully good too, isn’t he ? ” said Lizzie 
with a smile. 

“ I dare say he is,” said Leon dryly. “ Almost too 
good.” 

Leon then saw Lizzie home. 

Lizzie knew that Wilmot did not like Leon, so 
she said nothing about her pleasant lunch. 

With his blood tumbling through his veins in a 
way which made every nerve tingle, Leon rushed 
into Stilpoohs headquarters and in a few words gave 
the facts and names which he had learned from 
Lizzie. 

There was a triumphant gleam in Mr. Stilpool’s 
eye as he said: 

“ The repealers have had it all their way so far. 
Now, it is our turn.” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


429 


CHAPTER LIL 

PURSUED BY A MOB. 

The village of Stilpool was represented in the 
legislature by Leonard Hatree. 

Hatree was a good politician, but weak and suscej)- 
tible to influence. When elected he was unques- 
tionably opposed to the rej)eal of the limited-capital 
law. 

As the session advanced and the • repealers began 
to show their strength, Hatree betrayed signs of wa- 
vering. He was one of those men who always wanted 
to be on the winning side. He was astonished by 
the showing the repealers made, and although he 
would not take a bribe, he thought it no harm to 
advance his interests, politically, by going over to 
the successful party. 

General Sinclair was active among the repealers at 
the capital, and it was mainly through his influence 
that Hatree Anally cast his fortunes in with the 
repealers. 

In the whole village of Stilpool there were not 
twenty -flve men who favored the repeal,” and when 
it was rumored that their representative had de- 
clared in favor of the repeal,” the report was scarce 


430 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


credited. But soon the report was confirmed, 
coupled with the announcement that General Sinclair 
had purchased their representative “body and soul.” 

The inhabitants were indignant; they were beside 
themselves with shame and chagrin. 

“ Stilpool represented by a repealer ? ” cried one 
of the citizens. “ It is an outrage.” 

“ It is a disgrace,” said another, “ to have a man 
misrepresent us in this way.” 

“We should demand his resignation,” said the 
first speaker. 

A meeting of the villagers was called and Hatree’s 
resignation was demanded by an almost unanimous 
vote. 

Hatree was frightened by the demonstration. He 
drafted his resignation and was about to send a copy 
of it to his constituents when Sinclair stopped him. 

“ What a fool you are,” he said. “ Your vote is 
needed. Where will you be if you resign ? Your 
constituents will do nothing for you, the new com- 
pany will have no reason to favor you, and you will 
be a ruined man. Keep the stand you have taken. 
In two weeks the new company will be organized 
and it will remember its friends and its enemies. 
Where will your constituents be ? Back in the 
ranks of laborers. Which side is it best to be on ? ” 

“ The repealers, I think,” said Hatree, “ but ” 

“There are no ‘buts’ about it,” said Sinclair. 
“ Those fools in Stilpool will be of no use to you 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


431 


after a week or two. They will be helpless. In fact, 
their enmity will be better than their friendship.” 

‘‘ But,” said Hatree, suppose that the repeal bill 
does not pass and the company is not organized? I 
Avill never dare to return to Stilpool.” 

You talk like an infant,” said Sinclair, contempt- 
uously. Don’t you know that these things are 
forgotten almost immediately; that the average citi 
zen is very short-memoried ? ” 

Look at the memorial they have sent. See the 
letters I get,” said Hatree. By every post they 
come, threatening me and demanding my immediate 
resignation. I am afraid they will come down here 
and kill me if I don’t resign at once.” 

The hotter the public indignation the sooner it 
burns out,” replied Sinclair, with a snap of his fin- 
gers. Even if the repeal fails, in two weeks people 
will be tired of talking about your perfidy ” (smiling 
sarcastically), and any one who refers to it will be 
laughed at for talking ancient history. 

“ The average man is like the tide, always chang- 
ing. One of his strongest desires is novelty. He 
hates what is trite. His aversion is an oft-repeated 
story. He has a thirst for sensations with which 
to whet his appetite like a condiment. He is always 
craving something new and he hates an old story. 

“ Before you see these silly people again they will 
have a dozen sensations which will have made yours 
look very faded.” 


432 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


What will I do ? ” 

‘‘ Sit down and write to the postmaster that you 
have been elected to serve your village and that you 
intend to continue so doing in a broad, patriotic 
sjiirit, and that you cannot be swerved from your 
duty by a lot of impractical visionaries who don’t 
know when they are being well served.” 

Hatree sent such a letter and, like a weakling that 
he was, added that Sinclair subscribed to the same 
views. 

A few days after the letter reached Stilpool, Sin- 
clair had the temerity to go to the village. 

As Sinclair arrived at the station a meeting of the 
Limited Capital League was being held for the pur- 
pose of denouncing the conduct of Hatree and to 
again demand his resignation. 

At the Limited Capital League meeting many 
things were said which were calculated to inflame 
the minds of the audience against Sinclair and it so 
hai)pened that Sinclair had just passed the hall as 
the meeting adjourned. 

He heard tlie noise of peojjle talking, and turned 
to look towards the hall. 

As he turned he was recognized by several of the 
crowd. 

‘‘ There he goes, now,” shouted one of the men. 

“ There’s Sinclair,” yelled another. 

“ There goes the traitor,” cried another. 

See the repealer,” still another called. 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS^. 


433 


Then there was a confusion of yells and cries. 
Sinclair heard it and again looked back. 

“ Let ns hang him,” shouted one of the men. 

“ Hang him ! ” 

“ Lynch him ! ” 

“ Catch him ! ” 

‘‘ Don’t let him get away! ” 

Stop him!” 

The crowd became more excited every moment. 

Sinclair kept looking back over his shoulder while 
he at the same time increased his pace. 

“ Hang the repealer,” shouted a man as he started 
forwards. 

The crowd followed with a yell. 

Sinclair turned, saw them coming, and started on 
a run for his home. 

He was remarkably fleet for an old man. 

Leon had arrived from the capital earlier in the 
day, and he spoke at the Limited Capital League 
meeting, which was held in the public hall. 

General Sinclair’s home was a short distance from 
the hall. 

Leon left the hall before the meeting was over and 
went to Sinclair’s house to call on Millicent. 

General Sinclair had not changed his mind in re- 
gard to Leon. He was still as Arm in his opposition 
to his daughter’s becoming Leon’s wife as ever. 

‘^My daughter,” he had said, with tears in his 
28 


434 


THE KEIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


eyes, “I cannot consent to your marrying a man 
whose character is colorless.” 

“But, father,” pleaded Millicent, “Leon has a 
great deal of character.” 

“ How has he shown it ? ” 

“ In no special way, but he is always good and kind 
to me.” 

“ Any one can be kind when they are weak.” 

“ But Leon is not weak.” 

“ When he does something which proves that he 
has strength and is courageous I will be only too 
happy to give my consent to his marrying you; for, 
my child, I want to see you happy.” 

In this way the matter was left. 

Notwithstanding Sinclair’s opposition, Leon called 
on Millicent whenever he chose and on this occasion 
was telling her of his doings at the capital. 

Suddenly Millicent, who was looking out of the 
window down the street towards the hall, started 
up: 

“ What is the matter ? ” she said. 

“ Where ? ” asked Leon. 

“ Down the street,” she answered as she pointed 
towards the hall. 

Leon looked out of the window. 

A crowd of men were running towards the house. 
There was a man in front of the crowd some dis- 
tance ahead. He was running rapidly. 

The crowd seemed to be pursuing him. They were 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


435 


gesticulating and some of them were brandishing 
sticks and weapons, while others were throwing 
stones at the fleeing man. 

“ What is it ? ” said Millicent in a horrifled whisper. 

I don’t know,” answered Leon. 

Suddenly Millicent caught hold of Leon’s shoulder 
and leaned on him while she stared eagerly at the 
fleeing man who was momentarily coming nearer to 
the house. 

It’s papa, it’s papa ! ” she cried. 

‘‘ Yes, yes, so it is,” said Leon, breathless. 

‘‘Oh! Oh! What is the matter? what will we 
do ? ” cried Millicent. 

“ Out of the way,” shouted Leon, as he pushed her 
one side. He rushed out of the room into the hall. 
There he picked up a heavy stick and at the same 
moment opened the front door and went out on to 
the stoox). 

The crowd was now close to the house. The noise 
of their shouting and cries was horrible. There was 
an angry menace in their cry which almost froze 
Leon’s blood. The cry of an angry mob is the most 
terrifying and horrible of all sounds. There is noth- 
ing like it in the world. It is more terrifying than 
anything that can be seen or conjured up by the 
mind. It is like a living thing which whirles around 
the body and seems to saturate it with a vibrating 
fear. It seems to envelop the mind and crush it 
under a resistless weight. It seems to strike on the 


436 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


heart like a knell and set every nerve tingling and 
strains them to a tension which is agonizing. 

Sinclair was about twenty feet ahead of the mob. 
He was bare-headed, his face was ghastly, his eyes 
were glaring in terror, and there was a dash of blood 
on his forehead. He was breathing hard, but he 
was running pretty well. 

A moment after Leon had opened the door he 
dashed up the steps. 

‘‘ Run back to the stable,” said Leon to him in a 
low tone. 

Sinclair paused for a second as he reached the top 
of the stoop, gave a gasp, and dashed through the 
doorway. Millicent was there to receive him. 

‘‘ Millie, lock the door,” Leon shouted, as he 
slammed the door. He turned and faced the mob. 

The mob came rushing up the steps. 

Leon stood in front of the door. 

“ Where is he ? ” shouted the leader. 

Where is he ? ” 

“ Where is he ? ” echoed a dozen voices. 

Leon said nothing, but stood in front of the door 
with his teeth clenched and his face like marble. 
He instinctively held the stick in front of him as if 
it were a bar. 

The mob surrounded him in an instant. Every 
man was excited, panting, wild-eyed, angry, thirst- 
ing for blood. They were fiercer than lions or tigers 
or hyenas or leopards. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


437 


Men can be more fierce than animals. 

Their eyes gleamed; their teeth gleamed; their 
nostrils were distended; their chests heaved; their 
sinews and muscles were strained and taut. Their 
limbs were rigid. Their hands grii)i^ed their weap- 
ons. They were savage. 

He went in the house,” shouted one of the men. 

In the house.” 

‘‘ In the house.” 

‘‘ The house ! ” 

“ House! ” 

“ House! ” 

House ! ” shouted the mob. 

“ Open the door! ” said another. 

Open ! ” 

“Open!” 

“The door! ” 

“Door!” 

“ Door! ” 

“Door!” 

“ Door! ” the mob shouted. 

Leon could say nothing; all he could do was to 
hold the stick in front of him as if he would bar the 
way. 

“ Get out of the way,” said one of the men, menac- 
ing Leon with a club. 

“ Out!” 

“ Way! ” 

“ Out!” 


438 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


‘‘Way! ” 

“ Way!” 

“ Out!” 

“Out!” 

“ Out! ” echoed the crowd. 

Leon stood his ground with his back to the door. 

One of the men tried to push him one side. Leon 
raised the stick to ward off the man’s hand. 

“ You won’t ? ” said the man. “ Take that then,” 
and he brought his club down on Leon’s head. 

Leon threw his hands up wildly, gave a groan and 
fell to the ground. 

The crowd started back when they saw him fall 
and stood looking on in dead silence. 

The sight of the prostrate man sobered the mob 
and most of them ran away. Three of the men re- 
mained. They lifted his head and felt his heart. 

“ He is only stunned,” said one of them. 

“ Thank God,” said the others. 

They then knocked at the door. 

Millicent looked out of the window and when she 
saw Leon lying on the stoop insensible, she screamed 
and came to the door. She opened it and fell on her 
knees beside Leon. 

“ He is only stunned; he will be all right in a few 
minutes,” said one of the men. 

They carried him into the parlor and laid him on 
a lounge. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


439 


One of the men got some water and Millicent 
batlied his head. The men then hastened away. 

In a few minutes he opened his eyes in a confused 
way. 

After a while he smiled as he said to Millicent: 

‘‘ Do you think I’m a coward now ? ” 

‘‘I never did,” she said. ‘‘I always knew you 
were brave and you are brave.” 

Leon took her head in his hands and kissed her. 

Just at that moment Mr. Sinclair came in. He 
took Leon by the hand as he said: 

“ Leon, you are a brave man. Millicent, I will trust 
you to his care.” 


440 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


CHAPTER LIIL 

‘^■OTE NO.” 

The bill for the repeal of the Limited Capital law 
came up in the Legislature for the final vote. 

Both sides were there in full force. Everything 
had been done by the opposition to defeat the bill. 
All sorts of obstructive measures and dilatory mo- 
tions had been exhausted, but as one of the repealers 
said, “ The bill has swaggered through the house 
as if it owned it.” 

Notwithstanding this there was an element of un- 
certainty about the final passage which kept the 
nerves of the leaders at the highest tension. 

Wilmot had been up all night, as he said, stiff- 
ening the backbones of the weaklings.” 

‘‘ If everything goes right we have a clear ma- 
jority of ten,” said Griffin. 

Wilmot brought Lizzie to the house and gave her 
a front seat in the gallery. 

As the preliminary business of the house was pro- 
ceeding, Wilmot dashed about from member to mem- 
ber to make sure that they were loyal. 

“Well, Lawton,” he said to one of the members, 
“ is everything all right ? ” 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


441 


The man moved uneasily as he said : I sort of 
think, Mr. Wilmot, that I had kinder think I’ll vote 
the other Avay, ’cause ” 

The man’s manner as well as his words sent a chill 
through Wilmot’s heart. He turned pale as he 
looked at the man for a second; then he burst out: 

‘‘ AVhat do you mean, you scoundrel? Didn’t you 

promise — didn’t they give you ” here he broke 

off. 

The attention of the other members were attracted 
more by AVilmot’s vehement manner than by his 
voice. 

Lawton looked around uneasily as he said: 

“ I — I muj vote for it, but— yer know I can’t tell 
how things are going just yet; you see it’s kind of 
risky.” 

‘‘ See here,” said AVilmot, fiercely, you just vote 
or I will see that you are ” 

“ I am willing to vote,” said the man, “ but ” 

“ There must be no buts about it. Do you hear ? ” 
said AAHlmot in a loud voice. “ You must vote for 
the repeal, or ” 

“No intimidation,” cried one of the opposition in 
a loud tone, coming over to Lawton’s seat. 

Several other members shouted: “AVhat’s the 
matter ? ” 

There was considerable disturbance and the 
speaker called for order. 

“ Mr. Speaker/’ said one of the members, 


442 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


^‘Mr. Conover,” said the speaker, recognizing him. 

‘‘Mr. Speaker,” resumed Mr. Conover, “there 
seems to be intimidation going on here, and I appeal 
to the chair to stop it.” 

“ There can be no intimidation on the floor of this 
house. The members know their rights. The house 
will preserve order,” said the speaker. 

There w^ere some savage remarks indulged in by 
Wilmot and several of the opposition as he went on 
his rounds among the repealers. 

The opposition gathered around Lawton, but he 
was as unsatisfactory in his answers to them as to 
Wilmot. 

Meanwhile the routine business had been flnished 
and the vote on the Repeal bill reached in its regular 
order. 

AVilmot was in a horribly nervous condition. He 
had had very little sleep for several days, and his 
nerves were all in a jangle. The Lawton incident 
rattled him badly. 

Several of the other members had acted in such a 
way as to shake his confidence in them. 

He rushed out into the lobby ; a number of the 
promoters of the repeal were there. Wilmot imag- 
ined they looked scared. 

“ Where is Jason and Miller ? ” he asked. 

“ They will be here soon,” said one of the pro- 
moters. 

“ They ought to be here now,” he said. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


443 


He noticed Stilpool and a number of the opposi- 
tion in the lobby; they seemed calm and collected. 

He heard the clerk’s voice calling the roll, and he 
rushed back on to the floor. 

How is it ? ” he asked one of the repealers. 

“ It seems to be all right,” said the man. 

“ Seems? ” he asked, ain’t you sure ? ” 

Just then one of his friends beckoned to him and 
he rushed over to him. 

What’s the matter ? ” he asked eagerly. 
‘‘Johnson seems to have flunked.” 

“ What ? ” he cried, “ impossible! ” 

“ Yes, it seems so.” 

“Where is he?” 

“ There he is with Horton.” 

“ Send him here.” 

The man left. He returned in a moment. 

“ Well ? ” said Wilmot. 

“ Says he can’t come,” said the man, breathlessly. 
“ What’s the matter with him ? ” 

“ I don’t know.” 

“ You don’t know anything. How is the vote— 
so far, I mean ? ” 

“ All right, I think.” 

“ Think — didn’t you keep tally ? ” 

“ Yes, I tried to, but there’s some ” 

“ Who does know anything ? How did Cory 
vote ? ” 

“ Oh, he was all right.” 


444 


THE KEIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


“ Sure?” 

Yes-es,” said the man trying to recollect. 

Oil, go to , you don’t know anything.” 

Wilmot’s was the sixtieth name on the roll. 

He borrowed a tally sheet from one of his friends. 

It was not correctly marked. 

He turned to go to the lobby again, but at that 
moment the clerk called the name of George 
Ward ” that brought the call within five of his own 
name and he waited. 

One of the repealers was just coming in from the 
lobby. He seized him by the arm; 

Go and tell Miller to send me word how Wallace 
stands.” 

‘‘ He isn’t there,” said the man. 

‘‘ Tell Jason then.” 

“ He isn’t there either.” 

‘‘ Isn’t there? Where is he ? ” 

Just then a page handed him a note. It was in 
Lizzie’s handwriting. 

He read it. He turned pale and the perspiration 
burst out on his forehead. 

He clutched the note in his hand as he turned and 
glared up at the ladies’ gallery. 

Lizzie was still in one of the front seats. As she 
caught his eye she arose. In her right hand she held 
a small white handkerchief. Her face was all ex- 
citement, She raised her right hand and made an 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


445 


emphatic gesture with it. The handkerchief flashed 
up and then down. 

Then came the monotonous voice of the clerk. 

‘‘ Augustus Wilmot.” 

Wilmot’s eyes glared. He trembled all over. He 
stared at Lizzie and tried to read what her face was 
saying. If he only had a moment to speak to her, 
to go out into the lobby. He would have given any- 
thing for flve minutes’ time. 

Again came the monotonous voice of the clerk. 
‘‘Augustus Wilmot.” 

VVilmot again looked at Lizzie and again the em- 
phatic gesture of the hand with the white handker- 
chief, which looked like a flash. 

For long years after, Wilmot saw that handker- 
chief in his dreams at night, and it always carried 
with it the same feeling of horror. It was the inva- 
riable accompaniment of a nightmare to him. Many 
a time he screamed out in terror as in his dreams a 
white handkerchief would flash on his vision. 

Some one touched him on the shoulder and said 
“ Vote.” 

It was like an electric shock and he shouted, 
“ No.” 

The white handkerchief flashed up to Lizzie’s eyes 
and she sank into her seat with an exclamation of 
relief, and then she wejpt silently. 

In an instant there was a hubbub. Everybody was 
talking at once. 


446 


THE REIGN OP SELFISHNESS. 


The leader of the Repealers had voted against the 
repeal. 

As Wilmot sank into his chair, he let Lizzie’s note 
fall. One of the members picked it up and read it. 

He whispered its contents to another. 

It read thus : 

“Miller, Jasen and Hayden have been arrested 
for bribing. Your only hope is to vote no. Please 
vote no for my sake. Won’t you ? Lizzie.” 

Its contents went round the chamber with the ra- 
pidity of a thought. 

There were wild inquiries: “ What’s the matter? ” 
“ What will we do? ” “ Where is Sinclair? ” 

But there was no time for inquiry. The voting 
was in progress. 

One of the repealers moved to suspend the voting. 
The speaker ruled the motion out of order. 

To gain time one of the members made a speech 
explaining his vote. Other members rushed to the 
lobby where the news of the arrest was confirmed. 

Then a panic seized the repealers. 

Charles Anderson, one of the first to vote in the 
affirmative, jumped to his feet and was recognized 
by the speaker. He said: “Mr. Speaker, I desire 
to change my vote from yea to nay.” 

Instantly a dozen others were on their feet shout- 
ing: “ Mr. Speaker,” “ Mr. Speaker,” “ Mr. Speaker, ” 
and as they were recognized, they changed their 
votes. 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


447 


When the voting was finished it was found that 
the measure was defeated by a unanimous vote. 

To clinch the vote and prevent its being brought 
up again that session, some one moved to re-consider. 

Not a man dared to vote for a re-consideration. 

Then there was a motion to adjourn which was car- 
ried instantly, the repealers hastened to their homes 
and destroyed the stock they had secured and every 
other evidence of bribery. 

A great many of the repealers fied the country, 
fearing prosecution. 

Some people talked strongly of having the leading 
repealers punished, but wiser counsel prevailed and 
animosities were buried in the general rejoicing. 

Limited Capital Leagues became permanent insti- 
tutions established in every village and through their 
agencies violations of the Limited Capital law were 
detected and stopj)^d. 

Practical experience demonstrated the fact that 
the law prevented monopolies, stopped the accumu- 
lation of wealth in the hand of a few, distributed the 
earnings of the people almost equally among them, 
caused the population to distribute itself all over 
the country instead of concentrating in great cities. 

There were no gambling or failures in business. 
The hours of labor were lessened. There was no 
strife between labor and capital and there was pro- 
moted a kindly feeling of sympathetic interest be- 
tween man and man. 


448 


THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS. 


Sunday, Thursday and Saturday were holidays. 
Thursday was called mid-week rest. One-half of the 
inhabitants had at least three holidays every other 
week. 

Fifty hours was a legal week’s work and practical 
experience proved that fifty hours of work yielded 
better result than seventy-two hours. 

There was an interchange of entertainments among 
the people of the different villages which kept the 
citizens in a pleasant condition of excitement both 
summer and winter. 

* * * * * ^ 


In the month of May, one mid-week rest day, there 
was a great gathering at the house of General Sinclair. 

Mr. Stilpool T^as there and so was Mr. Hiton, Mr. 
Reed, Dr. Clark and his wife. Grace Kirby was 
there, too, just as impetuous as ever. Lizzie was 
there having little confidential chats with everybody 
and wondering why everybody seemed to like her 
confidential talk. Gus Wilmot, her husband, was 
there loving, happy and rested, as he said: 

‘‘Well, I believe now we are better off than if we 
were bothered trying to keep a lot of riches.” 

There were a great many other people there and 
among them Millicent and Leon. Everybody brought 
Millicent a bouquet of flowers and flowers were 
heaped up all around her. 

That was the way Millicent and Leon were 
married. ^ ^ ^ 

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